Ryan Callahan
Callahan with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2014
Born (1985-03-21) March 21, 1985 (age 39)
Rochester, New York, U.S.
Height 5 ft 10 in (178 cm)
Weight 186 lb (84 kg; 13 st 4 lb)
Position Right wing
Shot Right
Played for New York Rangers
Tampa Bay Lightning
National team  United States
NHL Draft 127th overall, 2004
New York Rangers
Playing career 2006–2019

Ryan Callahan (born March 21, 1985) is an American former professional ice hockey right winger who played 13 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the New York Rangers and the Tampa Bay Lightning. He currently serves as a studio and game analyst for the NHL on ESPN.

Callahan served as captain of the Rangers from 2011 until he was traded to the Lightning in 2014. Additionally, he has represented the United States in Olympic and international play.

Playing career

Amateur

Callahan played one year of high school ice hockey for Hilton High School. He then began his junior career with the Rochester Junior Americans of the Empire Junior B Hockey League, where he played for two seasons, 1999 to 2001. After being drafted in the 15th round of the 2001 OHL Priority Selection by the Guelph Storm, Callahan then played with the Syracuse Jr. Crunch and Buffalo Lightning of the OPJHL before moving on to a four-year Ontario Hockey League (OHL) stint with the Storm, where he played alongside future Ranger teammate Dan Girardi. Callahan turned professional with the Hartford Wolf Pack of the American Hockey League (AHL), where he played most of the 2006–07 season. On November 16, 2022, it was announced that Callahan's number will be retired by the Guelph Storm in a ceremony commencing on November 19, 2022, during a game against the Kitchener Rangers.[1]

New York Rangers

Callahan received his first NHL call-up to the Rangers on November 28, 2006,[2] making his NHL debut on December 1, but he would only play in that one game before being sent back down to the Wolf Pack. He was called up for a second time on December 19,[3] but would again only play in one NHL game in that stint. Toward the end of the season, Callahan was called up for the third and final time on March 15, 2007, after scoring 35 goals in 60 AHL games, and he would stay with the Rangers through the 2007 Stanley Cup playoffs.[4] Two days later, on March 17, he scored his first two NHL goals against Joey MacDonald of the Boston Bruins. He scored his first career assist on March 21 and first career game-winning goal on April 1. He scored his first two NHL playoff goals in a 7–0 win in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinal against the Atlanta Thrashers on April 17, 2007.

Callahan as an alternate captain for the New York Rangers in February 2011. He was named as an alternate captain in 2009.

After scoring one goal in the first eight games of the 2007–08 season with the Rangers, Callahan was out for a month with a grade two knee sprain.[5] He did not quickly regain his strength at the NHL level, going his next 16 games without a goal, prompting the Rangers to send him back to the Wolf Pack on January 7, 2008.[6] After 11 games in Hartford, he was called up on February 3 to replace an injured Brendan Shanahan in the Rangers' line-up against the Montreal Canadiens.[7] Callahan tallied his second career two-goal game against the San Jose Sharks on February 17.

The following season, 2008–09, was Callahan's breakout year. On October 1, 2008, he scored the game-winning goal for the Rangers with 20 seconds left in the inaugural Victoria Cup; the Rangers defeated Metallurg Magnitogorsk by a 4–3 tally.[8] In the regular season, he was third on the Rangers with 22 goals and fifth on the team with 40 total points. Callahan was also awarded the Rangers' Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award for his hard work throughout the season,[9] and scored the winning goal in the team's playoff-clinching win in the final home game of the season. In the subsequent off-season, on July 13, 2009, Callahan was re-signed by the Rangers.[10]

Callahan was named an alternate captain of the Rangers on October 2, 2009, to begin the 2009–10 season.[11] He suffered a broken hand on December 15, 2010, in Pittsburgh when he blocked a shot. He missed 19 games while recovering.[12]

On March 6, 2011, Callahan scored four goals and one assist as the Rangers beat the Philadelphia Flyers 7–0, simultaneously achieving the first hat-trick, four-goal game and five-point game of his NHL career.[13] He then suffered a broken ankle in the team's 79th game of the season against the Boston Bruins after blocking a Zdeno Chára slapshot in the final minutes.[14]

Callahan as captain of the Rangers in December 2011. He was named to the position several months prior in September 2011.

On September 12, 2011, at the age of 26, Callahan was named the 26th captain in the history of the New York Rangers.[15] He became the fifth-youngest captain in team history and the first homegrown captain since Brian Leetch in October 1997.[16] Callahan was also the first native of the State of New York to serve as the Rangers' team captain.[17] On February 11, 2012, Callahan scored his second hat-trick against the Philadelphia Flyers.

On February 25, 2012, Callahan scored his 100th career NHL goal, which came in overtime against the Buffalo Sabres at Madison Square Garden.[18] In the 2012 playoffs, he led the Rangers to their first Conference Final appearance since 1997; he also scored the first and last goals of the Rangers post-season as New York eventually fell to the New Jersey Devils in six games.

During the 2013–14 season, contract extension talks with the Rangers stalled, as the two parties were apparently $500,000 per season apart for six years – Callahan was asking $39 million for six years while New York was firm at $36 million for six years.

Tampa Bay Lightning

On March 5, 2014, the Tampa Bay Lightning traded captain Martin St. Louis and a second-round draft pick in 2015 (conditional at the time of the trade) to the New York Rangers in exchange for Callahan, a first-round pick in 2015, a conditional second-round pick in 2014 (which later became a first-round pick), and a seventh-round pick in 2015 (conditional at the time of the trade). Both of the first-round draft picks that were acquired by the Lightning in the trade were later traded to the New York Islanders. On June 25, 2014, five days before free agency was to begin, Callahan signed a six-year contract extension worth an annual average value of $5.8 million to stay with the Lightning.[19]

Callahan in December 2014 as an alternate captain for the Tampa Bay Lightning.

On May 11, 2015, during the 2015 playoffs, Callahan underwent an emergency appendectomy. He missed Game 6 against the Montreal Canadiens as a result of the procedure.[20] Just five days after having surgery, however, Callahan returned to the lineup for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Final against his former team, the New York Rangers.[21] The Lightning eventually defeated the Rangers in seven games. After the Lightning defeated the Rangers, the team would move on to the 2015 Stanley Cup Finals where they were defeated in six games by the eventual Stanley Cup champion, the Chicago Blackhawks.[22]

On October 7, 2015, Lightning head coach Jon Cooper announced that Callahan will wear a permanent "A" as an alternate captain for the 2015–16 NHL season.[23]

On June 21, 2016, Callahan had surgery to repair a labral tear in his right hip. Callahan was expected to be out for at least five months. Callahan had been dealing with the injury since the end of the regular season and throughout the playoffs as the Lightning advanced to the Eastern Conference Final. Due to the injury, Callahan did not participate in the 2016 World Cup of Hockey in Toronto.[24]

On January 15, 2017, the Lightning announced that Callahan was expected to miss four weeks with a lower body injury. Callahan continued to be bothered by his hip, which he had surgically repaired in the off-season. After making his initial return in November, Callahan was limited to only 18 games before missing more time.[25] On February 22, 2017, Lightning General Manager Steve Yzerman announced that Callahan had a follow-up procedure on his right hip in New York City. Yzerman said the doctors figured out what was causing the discomfort in Callahan's hip since having it surgically repaired in June. Yzerman said the labrum remains intact, and it is more of a scar tissue issue. It is not expected to be a career-threatening issue.[26] On October 6, 2017, Callahan returned to the Lightning lineup for the first time since undergoing surgery.[27]

On December 14, 2017, Callahan suffered an upper-body injury against the Arizona Coyotes. The following day, the team announced that Callahan was out indefinitely, and that he would be reevaluated in another three-to-four weeks.;[28] he would return to play for the 2018–19 NHL season.

On June 20, 2019, it was announced that Callahan was diagnosed with degenerative disc disease and has been placed on long-term injured reserve, effectively ending his professional career.[29] With one season remaining on his initial 6-year deal, Callahan's contract was traded by the Lightning, along with a 2020 fifth-round pick to the Ottawa Senators in exchange for Mike Condon and a 2020 sixth-round pick on July 30, 2019.[30]

After spending one year on the Senators' long-term injured reserve list, Callahan officially announced his retirement from the NHL on December 30, 2020.[31]

International play


Callahan (with puck) and Joe Pavelski move up ice against Canada during the 2010 Winter Olympics.
Medal record
Ice hockey
Representing  United States
Olympic Games
Silver medal – second place 2010 Vancouver Tournament

On January 1, 2010, Callahan was named to the Team USA roster for participation at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, with which he earned a silver medal with, falling to Canada in the tournament final.

Callahan also played in the following Winter Olympics, 2014, for the United States, although the team failed to medal, losing 5–0 to Finland in the bronze medal game.

On May 27, 2016, Team USA named Callahan to its 2016 World Cup of Hockey roster. Callahan was named as part of the final seven selections to fill out the remainder of the World Cup roster.[32] Due to a labral tear in his hip, Callahan missed the World Cup.[33]

Personal life

Callahan lists Brendan Shanahan as his favorite player growing up.[34]

On September 16, 2016, the Ryan Callahan Foundation announced their new website and that it will begin their mission to provide moments of family unity to those battling pediatric cancer. The foundation is composed of three elements; Cally's crew, the "2-4" Club, and direct funding efforts to support local and independent cancer foundations in search of a cure. The aim of Cally's Crew is to afford patients and families undergoing pediatric cancer treatment the chance to attend a Tampa Bay Lightning home game in the Ryan Callahan Foundation's suite at Amalie Arena. The "2-4" club functions as a Make-a-Wish style program that provides families with the opportunity to escape cancer treatments with an all-expense-paid trip, experience, or excursion on a monthly basis. Families undergoing treatment will share their stories via the Ryan Callahan Foundation website in order to promote a community of strength and togetherness. From these postings, the foundation will select monthly recipients of the "2-4" club escapes. With respect to the support of local and national charities, the foundation will use monetary funding and also raise awareness for other campaigns to accelerate the timeline towards the elimination of pediatric cancer.[35]

Callahan is of Italian and Irish descent.[36][better source needed]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

    Regular season   Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2000–01 Syracuse Jr. Crunch EmJHL 23 18 16 34 54 — — — — —
2000–01 Syracuse Jr. Crunch OPJHL 3 4 2 6 0 — — — — —
2001–02 Syracuse Jr. Crunch EmJHL 5 6 5 11 36 — — — — —
2001–02 Buffalo Lightning OPJHL 47 13 23 36 75 — — — — —
2002–03 Guelph Storm OHL 59 14 17 31 47 11 0 3 3 2
2003–04 Guelph Storm OHL 68 36 32 68 86 22 13 8 21 20
2004–05 Guelph Storm OHL 60 28 26 54 108 4 1 1 2 6
2005–06 Guelph Storm OHL 62 52 32 84 126 13 7 17 24 20
2006–07 Hartford Wolf Pack AHL 60 35 20 55 74 — — — — —
2006–07 New York Rangers NHL 14 4 2 6 9 10 2 1 3 6
2007–08 Hartford Wolf Pack AHL 11 7 8 15 27 — — — — —
2007–08 New York Rangers NHL 52 8 5 13 31 10 2 2 4 10
2008–09 New York Rangers NHL 81 22 18 40 45 7 2 0 2 4
2009–10 New York Rangers NHL 77 19 18 37 48 — — — — —
2010–11 New York Rangers NHL 60 23 25 48 46 — — — — —
2011–12 New York Rangers NHL 76 29 25 54 61 20 6 4 10 12
2012–13 New York Rangers NHL 45 16 15 31 12 12 2 3 5 6
2013–14 New York Rangers NHL 45 11 14 25 16 — — — — —
2013–14 Tampa Bay Lightning NHL 20 6 5 11 8 4 0 0 0 0
2014–15 Tampa Bay Lightning NHL 77 24 30 54 41 26 2 6 8 14
2015–16 Tampa Bay Lightning NHL 73 10 18 28 45 16 2 2 4 29
2016–17 Tampa Bay Lightning NHL 18 2 2 4 23 — — — — —
2017–18 Tampa Bay Lightning NHL 67 5 13 18 29 15 2 1 3 4
2018–19 Tampa Bay Lightning NHL 52 7 10 17 14 2 0 0 0 4
NHL totals 757 186 200 386 428 121 20 19 39 89

International

Year Team Event Result   GP G A Pts PIM
2005 United States WJC 4th 7 1 2 3 29
2010 United States OG 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 6 0 1 1 2
2014 United States OG 4th 6 0 1 1 0
Junior totals 7 1 2 3 29
Senior totals 12 0 2 2 2

Awards and honors

Award Year
OHL
Third All-Star Team 2005
Second All-Star Team 2006
Leo Lalonde Memorial Trophy 2006
AHL
All-Rookie Team 2007
NHL
Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award 2009, 2010,
2012, 2013

Transactions

References

  1. ^ "Guelph Storm set to honour one of its all-time greats".
  2. ^ Berlet, Bruce (November 29, 2006). "Callahan Gets Call to Join Rangers". Hartford Courant. Retrieved February 17, 2008.
  3. ^ Dellapina, John (December 19, 2006). "Shanahan, Lundqvist Latest Flu Victims". Daily News. Archived from the original on April 22, 2008. Retrieved February 17, 2008.
  4. ^ Zinser, Lynn (April 22, 2007). "Two Rangers Rookies Are Providing Exuberance Amid Experience". The New York Times. Retrieved February 17, 2008.
  5. ^ "Rangers RW Ryan Callahan out indefinitely with sprained knee". Associated Press. October 24, 2007. Retrieved February 17, 2008.
  6. ^ "Dawes, Moore recalled from Hartford" (Press release). New York Rangers. January 7, 2008. Archived from the original on March 9, 2008. Retrieved February 17, 2008.
  7. ^ Zipay, Steve (February 4, 2008). "Rangers rally to beat Canadiens, 5-3". Newsday. Retrieved February 17, 2008.
  8. ^ IIHF Top 100 Hockey Stories of All Time, Szymon Szemberg and Andrew Podnieks, p. 173, Fenn Publishing, Bolton, Ontario, Canada, 2008, ISBN 978-1-55168-358-4
  9. ^ "Callahan awarded with Steven McDonald extra effort accolade". Archived from the original on April 11, 2009. Retrieved February 19, 2016.
  10. ^ "Rangers re-sign Callahan to multi-yer deal". The Sports Network. July 13, 2009. Retrieved March 5, 2014.
  11. ^ Brooks, Larry (October 2, 2009). "Rangers name Callahan only alternate captain". New York Post.
  12. ^ Cerny, Jim. "Cally, Dubi make point of strong returns". New York Rangers.com. Retrieved March 7, 2011.
  13. ^ Cerny, Jim. "Rangers give Flyers big-time payback". New York Rangers.com. Retrieved March 7, 2011.
  14. ^ Lozo, Dave. "Rangers lose Callahan to fractured leg". NHL.com. Retrieved April 5, 2011.
  15. ^ Klein, Jeff Z.; Belson, Ken (September 12, 2011). "Callahan Fills Drury's Role as Captain of Rangers". New York Times. Retrieved April 1, 2015.
  16. ^ Urtz Jr., Tom (September 20, 2011). "New York Rangers: Where Could Ryan Callahan Rank in Lineage of Ranger Captains?". Bleacher Report. Retrieved April 1, 2015.
  17. ^ "Callahan to serve as 26th team captain". New York Rangers. September 12, 2011. Retrieved September 12, 2011.
  18. ^ Ackert, Kristie (February 25, 2012). "Callahan's OT goal scores Ranger win". NYDailyNews.com. Retrieved March 29, 2012.
  19. ^ "Lightning, Ryan Callahan Agree to Six-Year Contract". lightning.nhl.com (Press release). Tampa Bay Lightning. June 25, 2014. Retrieved June 25, 2014.
  20. ^ "Lightning's Callahan out indefinitely after emergency appendectomy". tbo.com/sports (Press release). Tampa Bay Times. May 11, 2015. Retrieved May 11, 2015.
  21. ^ The Canadian, Press (May 16, 2015). "5 days after surgery on appendix, Ryan Callahan in Lightning lineup for Game 1 vs. Rangers". NHL.com. Retrieved May 19, 2015.
  22. ^ Roarke, Shawn (June 16, 2015). "Lightning deal with disappointment of losing Final". NHL.com.
  23. ^ Smith, Joe (October 7, 2015). "Tyler Johnson likely a go for Lightning opener". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved October 11, 2015.
  24. ^ Leahy, Sean (June 21, 2016). "Ryan Callahan out 5 months after surgery; Kessel to World Cup?". Yahoo Sports: Puck Daddy. Retrieved June 21, 2016.
  25. ^ Smith, Joe (January 15, 2017). "Ryan Callahan out four weeks". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved January 16, 2017.
  26. ^ Smith, Joe (February 22, 2017). "Ryan Callahan out indefinitely after follow-up procedure". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved February 22, 2017.
  27. ^ Long, Corey (October 7, 2017). "Stamkos gets assist in Lightning win against Panthers". National Hockey League. Retrieved October 11, 2017.
  28. ^ Smith, Joe (December 15, 2017). "Ryan Callahan out at least 3-4 weeks for Lightning". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved December 17, 2017.
  29. ^ "Former Rangers captain Ryan Callahan diagnosed with degenerative back disease". CBS Sports. June 20, 2019. Retrieved June 20, 2019.
  30. ^ "Ottawa Senators acquire Callahan from Lightning for Condon". The Sports Network. July 30, 2019. Retrieved July 30, 2019.
  31. ^ Teague, Matt. "Ryan Callahan announces retirement after 13 NHL seasons". theScore. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
  32. ^ Allen, Kevin (May 27, 2016). "Team USA fills out World Cup of Hockey roster with physical set of players". USA Today. Retrieved May 30, 2016.
  33. ^ Leahy, Sean (June 21, 2016). "Ryan Callahan out 5 months after surgery; Kessel to World Cup?". Yahoo Sports: Puck Daddy. Retrieved June 21, 2016.
  34. ^ "Ryan Callahan New York Rangers - 2013-2014 Bio - New York Rangers - Team". Rangers.nhl.com. Retrieved March 5, 2014.
  35. ^ Tampa Bay, Lightning (September 16, 2016). "Lightning Forward Ryan Callahan Launches Foundation". Tampa Bay Lightning.com. Retrieved September 16, 2016.
  36. ^ "Saturday Ryan Callahan". vickyandnikkis5hole.wordpress.com. May 19, 2012. Retrieved May 20, 2012.
  37. ^ Klein, Jeff Z. (July 27, 2011). "Callahan and Rangers Avoid Bitterness of Arbitration". The New York Times.
  38. ^ Leonard, Pat (March 5, 2014). "NY Rangers trade captain Ryan Callahan and draft picks to the Tampa Bay Lightning for Martin St. Louis". The New York Daily News.
  39. ^ Smith, Joe (June 25, 2014). "Lightning signs Ryan Callahan to six-year, $34.8M dealLightning signs Ryan Callahan to six-year, $34.8M deal". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved June 8, 2015.

External links

Sporting positions
Preceded by New York Rangers captain
2011–14 		Succeeded by