he Pittsburgh Penguins have agreed to terms with forward Conor Sheary on a three-year contract, it was announced today by executive vice president and general manager Jim Rutherford.

The deal begins with the 2017-18 season and runs through the 2019-20 campaign, and it has an average annual value of $3 million.

Sheary, 25, took part in 45 playoff games in the last two seasons, putting up 17 points (6G-11A), while helping the Penguins capture back-to-back Stanley Cup championships. Playing in all six 2017 Stanley Cup Final games against the Nashville Predators, he scored goals in Games 1 and 5, and tacked on an assist in the Penguins' Game 2 win.

As a rookie forward in the 2016 playoffs, Sheary played in 23 games, recording 10 points (4G-6A). He scored two goals in the Stanley Cup Final as the Penguins beat the San Jose Sharks in six games. Sheary's biggest goal of his career came in overtime of Game 2 of the Cup Final. With the top-shelf winner, he became the first rookie to score an OT marker in the Cup Final since 1986.

In the 2016-17 regular season, the 5-foot-8, 175-pound Sheary enjoyed a breakout season. He set career highs in games played (61), goals (23), assists (30), points (53), and plus-minus (+24). His plus-24 was the best among Pens forwards, and sixth among all NHL forwards. Sheary finished the season tied for third on the team in goals with Phil Kessel, and his 53 points were fourth overall on the club behind Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kessel.

Sheary's strong play in January included posting six goals and nine points during the week ending Jan. 22, earning him the NHL's First Star of the Week. He finished the month with 13 points, the second most on the team behind linemate Crosby (14). Sheary's eight goals ranked third (tied) in the entire NHL.

A native of Winchester, Mass., Sheary has played 105 regular-season games and recorded 63 points (30G-33A) in his first two seasons in the NHL. He made his NHL debut on December 16, 2015 in a game against the Boston Bruins in his home state. Two nights later, also against the Bruins, Sheary notched his first NHL goal and assist. He would finish out the 2015-16 regular season with 44 games played and 10 points (7G-3A).

Sheary joined the Penguins organization as an undrafted free agent on a minor-league deal with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the American Hockey League back in 2014. Sheary earned his first NHL contract after leading WBS in scoring during both the regular season and playoffs in his first full professional season in 2014-15.

Sheary starred collegiately at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, where he was the captain his senior season.