News Article: Callahan leaves door open to return to Rangers / Richards Speaks Out

[offdacrossbar]

seems like those comments are best left unsaid to the media but i dont fault brad for saying what he feels. hes earned the right to speak his mind. this team has its soldiers now and cally isnt one of them. hes basically saying we are moving on and we will be fine.

cally was a young captain. many teams actually have their best players as their capts. cally was neither a senior player nor the best player. brad isnt wrong. hes just saying that cally wasnt an older wiser type guy and what he brought to the room can be replaced from within. nothing that incendiary.

i happen to agree with that.

and for the record, i am hoping our roster improves enough that we dont need cally back to play 3rd line minutes.

and i love ryan callahan

 

[Leonardo87]

This.

The expectations of a "second Liner" are ridiculous with some people on here. He's a clear second liner and a good one at that. I'd like him back but we now have Nash, St. Louis, and Zuccarello at RW. Too much shifting would be needed to fit him back here unless he comes on a decent contract.

As for what Richards said, he basically confirmed what many people speculated and is being overblown. Its not as negative as people are trying to spin

Nash is a LW . Zuccarello was playing with Callahan on the same line, before he got injured. It would just add more grit to a line if he returns. Something we need.

He has 27 points in 48 games, well 47 really. That is about 50 points on a full season pace., and he dealt with multiple injuries, and was not on the PP for a lot of games when he got back. He was starved of points, since the PP is the time to cash in for all players.

I look at Pittsburgh's roster now, and he would be the 2nd highest producing RW, and a top 6 producing forward, on PITTSBURGH! Also had injuries and missed game and offensive playing time like on the PP.

it doesnt make sense? how is a 60 plus scorer a top liner on a good team? we're talking a good team, not a mediocre team that cant score. if you're expecting only 60 points a piece out of your 1st liners, you won't be scoring many goals. to be productive in this league a 2nd line needs to have 60 points.

callahan plays over 15 minutes because he's on every PK and because of the lack of depth, played PP also.

how many minutes did he play 5 on 5 here?

He played some of the highest 5 on 5 mins. Not top line, but certainly 2nd line mins.

I don't expect Callahan to hit 60 points or more, even if he was on pace for that like 3 seasons in a row, lol. I expect 50 something points, and 29 out of 30 teams in the NHL would make you a solid 2nd liner, 1st liner for some of these teams.

If Cally signed a deal for 5.5 to 5.7 Million for 6 years, no one would be upset, except maybe a few select people. So a difference of 300k has made some people bitter towards him? Come on now.

 

[lilphildub]

it doesnt make sense? how is a 60 plus scorer a top liner on a good team? we're talking a good team, not a mediocre team that cant score. if you're expecting only 60 points a piece out of your 1st liners, you won't be scoring many goals. to be productive in this league a 2nd line needs to have 60 points.

callahan plays over 15 minutes because he's on every PK and because of the lack of depth, played PP also.

how many minutes did he play 5 on 5 here?

Wow you couldn't be more wrong. Go back to 2011-2012, the last full season and look at the top teams. You'll be lucky to see more than 3 players with more than 60 points on any team.

Your expectations over the top and borderline delusional

 

[Ail]

Nash is a LW . Zuccarello was playing with Callahan on the same line, before he got injured. It would just add more grit to a line if he returns. Something we need.

He has 27 points in 48 games, well 47 really. That is about 50 points on a full season pace., and he dealt with multiple injuries, and was not on the PP for a lot of games when he got back. He was starved of points, since the PP is the time to cash in for all players.

I look at Pittsburgh's roster now, and he would be the 2nd highest producing RW, and a top 6 producing forward, on PITTSBURGH! Also had injuries and missed game and offensive playing time like on the PP.



He played some of the highest 5 on 5 mins. Not top line, but certainly 2nd line mins.

I don't expect Callahan to hit 60 points or more, even if he was on pace for that like 3 seasons in a row, lol. I expect 50 something points, and 29 out of 30 teams in the NHL would make you a solid 2nd liner, 1st liner for some of these teams.

If Cally signed a deal for 5.5 to 5.7 Million for 6 years, no one would be upset, except maybe a few select people. So a difference of 300k has made some people bitter towards him? Come on now.

Nash is not a LW and has said he feels more comfortable on the right.

There is no room for Callahan on this roster for the money he wants or close to it.

 

[Wolfy*]

Cally wants a NTC, and Sather said no. I agree with the GM, it's a sleeping pill. If Cally doesn't produce there's a risk we'd still be stuck with him, paying him big bucks over many years.

 

[lilphildub]

Nash is a LW . Zuccarello was playing with Callahan on the same line, before he got injured. It would just add more grit to a line if he returns. Something we need.

He has 27 points in 48 games, well 47 really. That is about 50 points on a full season pace., and he dealt with multiple injuries, and was not on the PP for a lot of games when he got back. He was starved of points, since the PP is the time to cash in for all players.

I look at Pittsburgh's roster now, and he would be the 2nd highest producing RW, and a top 6 producing forward, on PITTSBURGH! Also had injuries and missed game and offensive playing time like on the PP.

Nash is a RW and has been all season. As has St. Loius. Zuccarello barely played with Cally on the same line and everyone knows its mostly been Zuc Brassard and Pouliot together this season with Zuc playing RW.

I'm not trying to take anything away from cally. We need a player like him and would take him back for the right contract. If the ranger really weanted too, they can shift players around to make it work. Problem is RW isn't a position of need, he's hurt way too often and will be on the decline as he gets older, and is asking for an albatross of a contract. I think I'd rather move on

 

[Leonardo87]

Nash is not a LW and has said he feels more comfortable on the right.

There is no room for Callahan on this roster for the money he wants or close to it.

http://www.nhl.com/ice/player.htm?id=8470041#&navid=nhl-search

 

[Vickers8]

Richards has accomplished far more than Callahan ever will. I say he deserves the right to give his view on the leadership of this team.

Richards hasn't accomplished **** on this team, he should shut the **** up

 

[Leonardo87]

Cally wants a NTC, and Sather said no. I agree with the GM, it's a sleeping pill. If Cally doesn't produce there's a risk we'd still be stuck with him, paying him big bucks over many years.

You mean like Richards?

 

[High And Wide*]

Can we buy out Richards now instead of the offseason? Sick of this sad lazy piece of ****.

 

[Callagraves]

Richards should know better than to be so candid and honest. He basically said that Cally did his leading on the ice, and wasn't terribly vocal in the locker room, and so the feel in the locker room hasn't changed terribly much.

I think we knew that.

 

[Leonardo87]

Can we buy out Richards now instead of the offseason? Sick of this sad lazy piece of ****.

After not giving Cally his contract, because of the NTC it is almost a given to buy out Richards now which would be even worse since it is closer to 7 Million and he is much older than Cally.

If Richards is not bought out now, it would hypocritical of Sather who just denied their captain job security who had been home grown on this team and played on this team and not coming from a FA market from another team.

 

[Ghost of jas]

I see nothing wrong with what Richards said. Complete non-story and another example of why I find the SNY blog to be rather useless. Throwing his former captain under the bus? I'm not sure they know exactly what that phrase actually means.

 

[Leonardo87]

Richards should know better than to be so candid and honest. He basically said that Cally did his leading on the ice, and wasn't terribly vocal in the locker room, and so the feel in the locker room hasn't changed terribly much.

I think we knew that.

Callahan was a do what I do captain, see me check guys, block shots, crash the net, hustle, go after loose pucks, and etc. Not a do what I say while I just cruise on the ice looking lost half the time like Richards last season.

 

[Mikos87]

http://www.nhl.com/ice/player.htm?id=8470041#&navid=nhl-search

The Rangers traded for Nash because they were missing a top line LW. When he came here, he scored a lot of his goals from the RW face-off dot and has played there ever since. The team was lacking a top line RW.

Now that MSL is a Ranger, Nash should be moved to the LW IMO to load up on the fire power. Nash has said he can play either side... same with MSL... but skilled players can play their off side to generate more shots since they'd be shooting at the entire net from their forehand on their off wing rather than having to use their backhand to go far side from their natural wing.

The line-up needs a shake up as guys are getting too comfortable in their roles. I would totally stack up Nash and MSL, and put Kreider on RW (played there at BC and played well).

61-19-26
62-21-20
67-16-36
22-28-13/10

 

[Leonardo87]

The Rangers traded for Nash because they were missing a top line LW. When he came here, he scored a lot of his goals from the RW face-off dot and has played there ever since. The team was lacking a top line RW.

Now that MSL is a Ranger, Nash should be moved to the LW IMO to load up on the fire power. Nash has said he can play either side... same with MSL... but skilled players can play their off side to generate more shots since they'd be shooting at the entire net from their forehand on their off wing rather than having to use their backhand to go far side from their natural wing.

The line-up needs a shake up as guys are getting too comfortable in their roles. I would totally stack up Nash and MSL, and put Kreider on RW (played there at BC and played well).

61-19-26
62-21-20
67-16-36
22-28-13/10

Thank you!

Nash has 31 points, 3 more than Ryan Callahan in more games played, and he is comfortable playing RW?

I want to see Cally back, but for the right price, but Sather has to come in the middle with a NTC, and give him some security, similar to Giradi's contract. I just don't understand why people are so bitter over a guy trying to secure his future, the money was there.

 

[lilphildub]

http://www.nhl.com/ice/player.htm?id=8470041#&navid=nhl-search

http://www.leftwinglock.com/line-co...eam=new-york-rangers&strength=EV&gametype=ALL

Most frequently Nash, St. Louis, Zuccarello, Callahan were used as RW. I don't care what he's listed as. He's usually played RW. If moving Nash tow LW was so easy, it would've been done by now with the LW depth being weak.

 

[Kovalev27]

Richie is spot on

And Callahan would be the 4th best RW on the team. No thanks

 

[smoneil]

Thank you!

Nash has 31 points, 3 more than Ryan Callahan in more games played, and he is comfortable playing RW?

I want to see Cally back, but for the right price, but Sather has to come in the middle with a NTC, and give him some security, similar to Giradi's contract. I just don't understand why people are so bitter over a guy trying to secure his future, the money was there.

Even if you DO move Nash to the left (not the greatest move, as he has a history of being a petulant player, and that might set him off), you still have MSL and MZA ahead of Callahan on the RW. Do you pay 6+million AAV for a 3rd line RW? So you say, okay, move MZA to the left wing, right? Then you have a LW depth chart of Nash, MZA, Kreider, Hagelin. Does it really make sense to have one of Kreider/Hags playing fourth line? No, it doesn't.

I loved Cally. If it were up to me and the cap weren't an issue, we never would have moved him, Dubi or AA. That line single handedly made sure that games like the other night's no-effort performance didn't happen. But there's just no room. He'd either be the most expensive 3rd liner in history, or we would have to shuffle around so many guys, putting good young players multiple lines below where they should be. You say the money is there. Now, it is, but we still need a top line center. We still need another top-4 quality LD. Staal will be getting a raise. The money that's there is already earmarked for more pressing needs, and Cally just isn't a need right now.

The sad reality, in my opinion, is that Callahan is "keeping the door open" because of the Rangers history of offering big money. If a player is going on the FA market, he wants other teams to think the Rangers are an option. It will drive up the offers from other teams.

 

[lilphildub]

I like Mikos87 reply better.

lol of course you do

I'm not saying I don't want him here. I'm just saying shifting everyone out of their positions to benefit a second liner that's A) hurt all the time B)wants a crazy contract C) not a position of need, would be crazy.

 

[Hunter Gathers]

Those comments are not shocking at all and exactly what needed to be said regarding all this tripe that the lockeroom wouldn't recover from a Callahan trade. It's what you would expect from anyone not looking at the situation from a biased fan perspective. I agree with him 100%. Callahan was a lead on the ice kind of player and the lockeroom aspect was being blown completely out of proportion. Of course now people will attack Richards for telling it how it is. Lol.

Agreed. I love what was said.

 

[Jersey Girl]

Perhaps since Richards isn't contributing on the ice, he feels inclined to contribute through the media instead.

 

[Hunter Gathers]

Can we buy out Richards now instead of the offseason? Sick of this sad lazy piece of ****.

In what world is Richards "lazy?"

 

[Hunter Gathers]

Perhaps since Richards isn't contributing on the ice, he feels inclined to contribute through the media instead.

So our leading scorer (well, tied for the lead, now) isn't contributing on the ice?

OK, then.

 

[Jersey Girl]

So our leading scorer (well, tied for the lead, now) isn't contributing on the ice?

Yeah, 45 points in 66 games, minus ten and contributes nothing besides scoring. I suppose we differ on the definition of 'contributing'.