Sixteen of Sheary's 18 goals last season came at even strength and the Sabres finished last in the NHL last season with 140 even-strength goals for. Sheary's knack for scoring goals in that situation should bump up those team numbers in 2018-19.
"We were looking to improve our even-strength scoring and we had to try to get a little bit in scoring from our wingers," Botterill said. "…Especially at even strength, he creates a lot of chances out there. We're very excited about bringing him into the organization."
Sheary, a 5-foot-8, 175-pound wing, is a two-time Stanley Cup champion with Pittsburgh. His highlight reel includes scoring the winning goal in overtime of Game 2 of the 2016 Stanley Cup Final against San Jose. He's posted 19 points (6+13) in 57 career postseason games.
"He knows how to play in pressure situations against other teams' top defenders, top players," Botterill, who worked in the Penguins front office for 10 seasons, said. "We've talked a lot about here, bringing in players who have playoff experience. It's why we were interested in bringing in [Marco] Scandella and [Jason] Pominville last year. Bringing in both Hunwick and Conor, who have played in playoff games, is very key for our group."
Sheary, who started his pro career in 2014 as an undrafted free agent on an AHL contract with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, ended up finding a home on Sidney Crosby's wing and scored 23 goals in 2016-17. His ability to continually beat the odds has impressed Botterill.
"When people were saying he couldn't do it, he found a way to become an American Hockey League All-Star. Then he found a way to get to the National Hockey League and found a way to help Pittsburgh win Stanley Cups. That sort of determination and compete and work ethic is something that we're looking to bring into our group," Botterill said.
In his three seasons with Pittsburgh, Sheary, 26, totaled 93 points (48+45) in 184 regular-season games. And just because Sheary played with Crosby doesn't mean it's a foregone conclusion that he will end up on Jack Eichel's wing. Botterill said Sheary has the skill to play with any of Buffalo's top three centers, whether it be Eichel, Ryan O'Reilly or Casey Mittelstadt.
"Whether it's Jack, Ryan, [or] Casey, [he] can play with one of our offensive centermen, finish off chances from them, but also get in on the forecheck, get pucks to our centermen," Botterill said. "…To me, until players get out on the ice, you're never going to know that for sure. We're always looking to add to our group, especially on the wing, to add more skill."
Hunwick, meanwhile, arrives as a veteran presence with 11 NHL seasons under his belt. Botterill sees Hunwick's professionalism improving the culture around the team.
"How he handles himself as a pro, his mobility on the blue line is going to help our group," Botterill said, "I've always been impressed from afar [with] how he's handled himself, how he's taken care of himself off the ice. [He's] a late-round pick who found a way to play in the National Hockey League."
Botterill said that in looking to build the roster, he continues to be in conversation with teams about certain players as well as with free agents he could sign on July 1. He was asked about O'Reilly, who has been the subject of many trade rumors over the past few weeks.
"You have a ton of rumors right now on Ryan and I think a lot of them are very creative. I would just say, from Day 1, we've been very happy with Ryan being a part of our group and we've said before that it's no surprise that teams are calling [on] him," Botterill said.
"He has a great reputation throughout the National Hockey Leauge and especially [with] what he's accomplished in international hockey. So I understand why people call on it, but the validity of a lot of the rumors are simply untrue."
