Ryan Shea is headed to Edmonton. Michael Reaves / Getty ImagesJuly 1, 2026 5:12 pm EDT Updated The Pittsburgh Penguins didn’t want to lose steady defenseman Ryan Shea, but they weren’t interested in a bidding war for the 29-year-old defenseman.His new team didn’t mind giving Shea a substantial payday.Shea and the Edmonton Oilers agreed to a five-year, $20 million contract on Wednesday, the team announced.A native of Milton, Mass., Shea is a late bloomer who proved himself a vital part of the Penguins’ blue line over the past couple of seasons. He earned $900,000 on a one-year contract last season.Following two years in the USHL (Youngstown), four years of NCAA hockey (Northeastern University) and three years in the American Hockey League (Texas), Shea finally became an NHL regular late in the 2023-24 season.
He didn’t make his NHL debut until age 26 but quickly became a reliable, trusted defender for the Penguins.His best season came during the 2025-26 campaign, when Shea compiled career highs with six goals and 35 points while playing most of the season on the Penguins’ third pairing.Shea was one of the Penguins’ most trusted penalty killers during his time in Pittsburgh and, despite sharing a locker room with a handful of future Hall of Famers, became a voice in the room and was frequently lauded by teammates for his leadership.Though there is nothing flashy about Shea’s game, he took significant strides in each of his three seasons in Pittsburgh and provided just enough offense to be considered more than a stay-at-home defenseman.Shea has taken only 42 minor penalties in 150 career games. He substantially led the Penguins with a plus-minus of plus-30 last season. He mentioned several times during and after last season that he wanted to stay in Pittsburgh, but because of his age and the late start to his career, he knew this summer was likely the opportunity to land the biggest contract of his career.Jul 1, 2026Connections: Sports EditionSpot the pattern. Connect the termsFind the hidden link between sports terms
