The 28-year-old forward was an unrestricted free agent. He scored 23 points (10 goals, 13 assists) in 63 games for the Pittsburgh Penguins and Buffalo Sabres last season, including four points (one goal, three assists) after he was traded to the Penguins on Feb. 24. He had two assists in four games for Pittsburgh during its loss to the Montreal Canadiens in the best-of-5 Stanley Cup Qualifiers.
Signed by the Penguins as an undrafted free agent July 1, 2015, Sheary has scored 150 points (72 goals, 78 assists) in 325 regular-season games with the Penguins and Sabres, and 21 points (six goals, 15 assists) in 61 Stanley Cup Playoff games.
Sheary won the Cup with the Penguins in 2016 and 2017, scoring an overtime goal in Game 2 of the 2016 Cup Final against the San Jose Sharks to become the first rookie to score in overtime in a Stanley Cup Final since Brian Skrudland of the Montreal Canadiens in 1986. He was traded to the Sabres on June 27, 2018.
Capitals general manager Brian MacLellan said Thursday that Sheary's versatility will give new coach Peter Laviolette more lineup flexibility.
"I view him as a middle-six forward (who) adds speed to the lineup, adds some offense," MacLellan said. "I think he's a guy that the coaches could move around and be flexible with. He's played right wing, he's played left wing, he's played up in the lineup, so I think he's a real good option for us to give our coaches some flexibility in their lineup decisions."
