Riley Sheahan had an inkling as far back as training camp that a trade might be on the horizon. And when the Detroit Red Wings came to terms Friday with Andreas Athanasiou, Sheahan pretty much knew they would have to make a move to get cap compliant.
So, here we are.
Sheahan is no longer with the Red Wings. He’s a Pittsburgh Penguin, the result of a Saturday swap that addresses general manager Jim Rutherford’s longtime quest to find a third-line center.
“It wasn’t a total surprise,” Sheahan said Sunday on conference call. “It’s been a crazy last day, but I’m looking forward to the opportunity. Obviously leaving behind a great organization and great teammates. I’m definitely excited for the change of scenery and to get started with such an awesome organization.”
In Sheahan, the Penguins will get a player who needs them a whole heap, a guy who’s eager to start taking shifts with “so many amazing players.” The excitement in his voice was evident.
Seems to be mutual, too.
The 7-1 loss Saturday against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Amalie Arena didn’t put the Penguins in the best of moods, but Sheahan said he already has heard from fellow Notre Dame alums Bryan Rust and Ian Cole.
Captain Sidney Crosby has reached out, in addition to Matt Hunwick, with whom Sheahan trained over the summer.
“It’s nice connecting with some guys, breaking the ice a bit, and knowing that the change of scenery will be good from a teammate standpoint,” Sheahan said.
The Penguins, of course, are hoping that the change of scenery works from a hockey standpoint.
Sheahan had two goals in 80 games last season, none through the first 79. It nearly was the baddest of bad seasons. Not just scoring goals, either.
The 6-foot-3, 226-pound center had a measly 13 points, including three on the power play despite averaging over a minute per ice time there. Sheahan’s minus-29 rating was worst on the Red Wings and the fourth-worst in the entire NHL.
This from a guy who scored 36 goals in his first 202 games in the league and looked every bit the part of a soon-to-be regular.
“It was tough, just knowing that I’ve performed at this level and contributed the first few years of my career,” Sheahan said. “Not doing the same thing last year was sort of a struggle. I was trying to contribute in different ways. I was trying to play smart and play a sound defensive game, things like that. It was tough.
“I’ve kind of experienced the worst, so I just need to build from there.”
That’s a familiar story in Pittsburgh.
Edmonton basically sold Justin Schultz to the Penguins for spare parts in the 2015-16 Cup-winning season, and the Penguins turned him into a $5.5-million-a-year defenseman, rebuilding his game from the ground up.
Carl Hagelin was in a better spot when the Penguins plucked him from Anaheim, but, nevertheless, his game was nothing like what it became in Pittsburgh.
Sheahan is well aware of both of those stories. It probably goes without saying that he is hopeful he can experience something similar.
“It gives you a little bit of confidence coming in,” Sheahan said. “Obviously, [the Penguins] have great coaching. These last two years they’ve won the Cup; they’re doing something right. To be able to turn guys’ careers around like that, it gives you some confidence going in. Those are two great players. Sometimes,things just don’t work out in your previous organization. To be able to come to Pittsburgh and know that they can revive guys like that, it gives you confidence.”
One thing that links Schultz and Hagelin is skating ability. While Sheahan is a bigger body — Rutherford talked Saturday about Sheahan’s ability to work down low and defend bigger players — he also feels he can fit in the Penguins’ uptempo system.
“I think I can keep up,” Sheahan said. “I think it’s about being smart and being in the right position. Trying to get the puck to some guys who have some amazing offensive ability is something that I can focus on and help out with. I’m not worried about that.”
Speaking after the game Saturday, Crosby said Sheahan’s size and skill stood out to him. Coach Mike Sullivan expressed similar confidence in Sheahan’s ability to adjust.
“I think he’s going to give us some more depth at that position,” Sullivan said. “He has good size. He can skate. He has shown an ability to have success in this league. I know last year wasn’t the year that he wanted to have. We’re hopeful that he’ll fit into this group and can play the type of game that we want to play.”
Jason Mackey: jmackey@post-gazette.com and Twitter @JMackeyPG.
First Published: October 22, 2017, 5:08 p.m.
