The organizational history of the Pittsburgh Penguins has a plethora of great players, and we decided to review the best Penguins players to wear each jersey number. Today we continue the list by naming the best #43 in Penguins history.
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Seven players have worn number 43 for the Penguins. Jeff Daniels was the first to wear it in 1992-93, and it was not worn again until 2003-06 by Tomas Surovy. Jansen Harkins last wore it in 2024, and it was Danton Heinen before him.
But sandwiched between all those guys was the best #43 in franchise history, Conor Sheary.
© Charles LeClaire – Imagn Images
After captaining the University of Massachusetts-Amherst in 2013-14, the undrafted Sheary signed a PTO contract for the Penguins’ AHL affiliate Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (WBS) in the end of their season. He impressed in the playoffs that year and earned a stay in the AHL the following season.
He signed an entry-level contract with the Penguins in 2015, and it was all downhill from there. Sheary played a key role in the Penguins’ 2016 Stanley Cup run that season, including scoring a memorable overtime goal in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final against the San Jose Sharks.
Sheary had four goals and 10 points during that playoff run, splitting time with Crosby.
But 2016-17 was his best season, when he scored 23 goals and 53 points in 61 games, largely alongside Crosby once again. He also spent time with Guentzel on the “Sid and the Kids” roster en route to the Penguins’ second straight Stanley Cup.
Following the 2017-18 season, Sheary played parts of two seasons with the Buffalo Sabers before returning to Pittsburgh one final time at the trade deadline in 2020. He has since played for the Washington Capitals and Lightning. Tampa Bay.
During his NHL career, the 32-year-old forward scored 124 goals and 267 points in 588 games.
