Ryan Callahan Appreciation Thread

[Baby Punisher]

I feel horrible for Cally. He was as hard-nosed as they came. I thought he was a pretty good Captain. I also thought he deserved more goals on the goal scoring side of his career and never hit 30 because of injury. He played through a lot of those injuries. I recall bis second season here he played most of the season with a strained AB muscle that cost him his mobility. Cally always gave it everything he had in every venue.

I soured on him his last season here when he made crazy, selfish contract demands. In retrospect, we traded him at the right time. Tampa signed him to a generous contract that he never really lived up too. Cally did score the occasional big goal in the regular season and playoffs, Cally was always good for a big hit, or defensive play. Sadly, they were far and few in-between. He was injured a lot throughout his career as a member of the New York Rangers. As his injuries continued, the absences became longer and longer and became mostly a 4th liner. With Tampa's depth and legitimate star power as well as their depth in the AHL The Tampa fans let most of Cally's shortcomings go. Had he still been on the Rangers he would have been killed here on a shift by shift basis.

I do wish him well and hope he can live a good, productive life.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

Tampa needs cap space and voila! Some mystery illness pops up for the player they were going to buy out. It's very similar to the "equipment allergy" of Hossa

 

[Kakko Schmakko]

he kinda ruined his legacy with his greed. Was not really captain material, but a good physical players but very fragile.

 

[NYSPORTS]

Tampa needs cap space and voila! Some mystery illness pops up for the player they were going to buy out. It's very similar to the "equipment allergy" of Hossa

Who knows what is true. Would be nice if he’s going out on his own terms and had some settlement due to the Lightning’s cap issues.

Meanwhile, how in the world can Vegas be in the worst cap shape???? They’ve only been in the league for two years.

 

[Bob Richards]

Love the guy and wish him the best.

Was an extremely important player for me in making the Rangers fun and respectable after so many lame ass years.

 

[aufheben]

Tampa always f***ing finds cap space.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

Tampa always ****ing finds cap space.

Maybe Marc Staal can be diagnosed with some make believe injury to give us some more cap space

 

[Hunter Gathers]

I hated the way he left and I hated him post-NYR. But, as with any player, I will say that I wish him well in his post-hockey life.

 

[LORDE]

The ‘greed’ issue gets blown way out of proportion by fans. Athletes’ careers are short.

This is a great, and sad example of that cold hard fact.

They have to make their hay when they can. Nature of the business/beast

 

[ColonialsHockey10]

I hated the way he left and I hated him post-NYR. But, as with any player, I will say that I wish him well in his post-hockey life.

He was so bad in Tampa. Every shift he would take himself totally out of position to make a small useless hit. Giveaways galore too.

He did it in NYR too - I hated when people said he was a good defensive forward. He was one heck of a penalty killer, but other than that he wasn’t anything special defensively. A liability often, if anything.

 

[Hunter Gathers]

He was so bad in Tampa. Every shift he would take himself totally out of position to make a small useless hit. Giveaways galore too.

He did it in NYR too - I hated when people said he was a good defensive forward. He was one heck of a penalty killer, but other than that he wasn’t anything special defensively. A liability often, if anything.

The diving was the biggest problem I had with him. But I don't want to go in depth into how much I came to dislike him as a player. I think that is pretty well documented, hah.

 

[Edge]

Kid was passed over completely in his first draft eligible year.

Heard 126 names called before his name the following year.

Went back as an overage player to earn his NHL contract.

Worked his ass off in Hartford.

Worked his ass off in New York.

Was chosen to represent his country repeatedly.

Not bad for a kid without a ton of higher-end skills, who clocked in at a generous 5'10, 190 pounds.

We all knew the career was going to be shorter because of the way he played. As a result, we feared that next contract that Tampa eventually gave him.

But I think we can appreciate and celebrate the career of a dark horse who exceeded anyone's initial expectations.

Cheers to Ryan Callahan. He's earned it.

 

[Baby Punisher]

The ‘greed’ issue gets blown way out of proportion by fans. Athletes’ careers are short.

This is a great, and sad example of that cold hard fact.

They have to make their hay when they can. Nature of the business/beast

Yes and no. When Sather spoke of the negotiations with Cally's agent Sather flat out said Cally was aking for Sydney Crosby money and they weren't coming off those numbers. That right there told me Cally's agent was doing him a terrible disservice. Cally never scored 30 goals in his career. He wasn't an elite passer. He was a well rounded player that could do it all very well, but wasn't an elite player at all. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE players like that. Give me a team of guys that does everything that Cally did and not be injured 20-30 games a year and you will have a team that will compete year after year for a cup and may even win 1 or 2, or 3 or 4. That all being said. One of those guys are Crosby caliber players that should be paid Crosby money. I hate Crosby. I hate him with a passion. But, the guy is elite. He does everything great and is a winner on top of it and deserves every penny he is getting and is probably under paid. Cally was always over paid by about a million per year.

 

[Tawnos]

Tampa needs cap space and voila! Some mystery illness pops up for the player they were going to buy out. It's very similar to the "equipment allergy" of Hossa

I've said this before and in other threads, but to me most guys 33 and older could probably stop playing and go on LTIR for legitimate chronic health problems.

 

[LORDE]

Yes and no. When Sather spoke of the negotiations with Cally's agent Sather flat out said Cally was aking for Sydney Crosby money and they weren't coming off those numbers. That right there told me Cally's agent was doing him a terrible disservice. Cally never scored 30 goals in his career. He wasn't an elite passer. He was a well rounded player that could do it all very well, but wasn't an elite player at all. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE players like that. Give me a team of guys that does everything that Cally did and not be injured 20-30 games a year and you will have a team that will compete year after year for a cup and may even win 1 or 2, or 3 or 4. That all being said. One of those guys are Crosby caliber players that should be paid Crosby money. I hate Crosby. I hate him with a passion. But, the guy is elite. He does everything great and is a winner on top of it and deserves every penny he is getting and is probably under paid. Cally was always over paid by about a million per year.

I think in negotiations u ask for more and then haggle to the middle. Of course he was overpaid. I also do t think he felt he was as good as Cindy it even worth that much. Crosby also signed many years earlier to lock into what he makes.

Again I do t hold it against him and also don’t blame us for dealing him.

 

[Hunter Gathers]

Maybe Marc Staal can be diagnosed with some make believe injury to give us some more cap space

Degenerative Skill Disease

 

[Bluenote13]

HARD TO PLAY AGAINST.

Loved his time as a Ranger, but glad both parties moved on.

Wish him all the best.

 

[True Blue]

But I think we can appreciate and celebrate the career of a dark horse who exceeded anyone's initial expectations.

Cheers to Ryan Callahan. He's earned it.

Times two. No need to hand his jersey in the rafters, but a great Ranger who really represented the sweater well.

 

[Hunter Gathers]

Times two. No need to hand his jersey in the rafters, but a great Ranger who really represented the sweater well.

Until he discovered the art of diving.

 

[True Blue]

Until he discovered the art of diving.

They all do

 

[Hunter Gathers]

They all do

Eh, I don't want to get into it to bash Callahan in his send-off thread, but he was among the worst I saw on this squad (sans Avery) in a loooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooong time.

 

[GAGLine]

Tampa needs cap space and voila! Some mystery illness pops up for the player they were going to buy out. It's very similar to the "equipment allergy" of Hossa

I don't see them as comparable. Hossa's "issue" was complete BS. He missed a total of 27 games in his final 3 seasons. Cally has missed 109 games over the last 3 seasons.

Hossa was also 38 and had 4 years left that only paid him 1 mil per year. It was obviously always the intent for him to retire at that point. Cally is only 34 and only has 1 year left that pays him 4.7 mil. I have to imagine he would keep playing if he could.

Yeah, the timing of it is suspicious, but I think it's legit. We've had our own share of luck in that regard (Naslund, Klein).

Anyway, thanks to Ryan for all his years as a Ranger. He defined what hard work is.

 

[bobbop]

Admired Callahan.

My favorite Callahan moment came late in a game when he dropped to block a meaningless Zdeno Chara shot and ended up with a broken leg.

Unfortunate that the contract situation spiraled out of control.

Gutsy player who got everything out of his modest talent. Represented the sweater with honor.

A fond farewell to an important Ranger.

 

[HockeyBasedNYC]

Good thread. Deserved.

As I said in the around the league thread, at least he got paid and he and his family are set.

Dude was all hustle and basically made the league on his own accord. Good career

 

[JohnC]

He was no David Clarkson