The Edmonton Olers signed veteran center Riley Sheahan to a one-year, $900,000 contract, TSN reported Thursday.
FILE PHOTO: Mar 30, 2019; Boston, MA, USA; Florida Panthers center Riley Sheahan (15) reacts after scoring on Boston Bruins goaltender Tuukka Rask (40) during the first period at the TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-USA TODAY Sports
Sheahan provides a veteran presence while the Oilers wait for the return of young star Connor McDavid, who tore the PCL in his left knee on April 6.
General manager Ken Holland told Sportsnet on Wednesday that the Oilers will not rush McDavid’s comeback.
“Opening night is the goal for everybody,” Holland said. “But the bigger priority is what we’re doing is right for Connor in the long term.”
McDavid, 22, is expected to be in Edmonton next week when training camp starts.
“Decisions will be made on the conservative side,” said Holland, who visited McDavid in Toronto three times during the offseason.
Sheahan, 27, was the No. 21 overall pick of the 2010 draft by the Detroit Red Wings. He spent his first six-plus seasons with Detroit before being traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins early in the 2017-18 season.
In February, he was part of a multi-player trade with the Florida Panthers.
Between the two teams last season, Sheahan tallied 19 points (nine goals, 10 assists). In 447 career games, he has 58 goals and 91 assists.
McDavid, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2015 draft, had 116 points (41 goals, 75 assists) last season, second in the league to only Nikita Kucherov of the Tampa Bay Lightning (128 points).
The Oilers open their season against the Vancouver Canucks on Oct. 2.
—Field Level Media