Ryan Callahan Tribute Thread

[Vickers8]

Yeah he has been scoring clutch goals . Even if you go back when he was still with the Rangers he has 14 points (7 G, 7 A) in 20 games.

Since fans wanted to throw him under the bus after only 20 games into this season, might as well post what he has done in his last 20 games.

Haters quick to forget what he meant to this team for 8 years

 

[Leonardo87]

Haters quick to forget what he meant to this team for 8 years

It's only a select few haters, was at the Phoenix game, and a lot of bring back Cally chants, and a one "Go back to Tampa" yelled at St Louis. No, it was not me chanting that. lol.

the guy wanted to get paid after seeing his friends get their pay days, and the Rangers bringing in these UFAs for crazy money. In the end he came down to a fair amount maybe a little higher, but it was getting no NTC which sent it south.

 

[AlternateSideParking]

Callahan is playing for a contract. Money, term and stability is what he wants.

Callahan didn't play well this season. At least offensively. He could have made it impossible for the Rangers to trade him, but he didnt.

He was mediocre, inconsistent and injured. They were winning without him in top of that.

I'm happy he's doing well in Tampa and I hope he stays there.
I think he's nuts if he leaves Tampa. Great weather, great organization, decent fan base and very good quality of life.

 

[Leonardo87]

Callahan is playing for a contract. Money, term and stability is what he wants.

Callahan didn't play well this season. At least offensively. He could have made it impossible for the Rangers to trade him, but he didnt.

He was mediocre, inconsistent and injured. They were winning without him in top of that.

I'm happy he's doing well in Tampa and I hope he stays there.
I think he's nuts if he leaves Tampa. Great weather, great organization, decent fan base and very good quality of life.

That's a little far-fetched, he had 3 injuries to deal with not just one. Everytime he was going to get a groove going he got hurt and missed several weeks. The last injury set him back the most because he could not skate and keep up with his conditioning.

I hope he also does sign in Tampa, if he wants any chance of winning. No pride in going to Buffalo and losing.

 

[pld459666]

sad thread is sad.

Cally is gone. He wasn't doing here what he is doing in TB and there's no guaranteeing that he would be sitting behind Nash and Zuccs.

can we get over the fact that he's gone?

Pointing to what he does on a nightly basis makes guys here look silly.

9 pts in 12 games since the trade. 12 points in 21 prior with three coming in one game. So basically 9 pts in 20 games.

 

[Leonardo87]

sad thread is sad.

Cally is gone. He wasn't doing here what he is doing in TB and there's no guaranteeing that he would be sitting behind Nash and Zuccs.

can we get over the fact that he's gone?

Pointing to what he does on a nightly basis makes guys here look silly.

9 pts in 12 games since the trade. 12 points in 21 prior with three coming in one game. So basically 9 pts in 20 games.

Actually he has 14 points (7 G, 7 A) in 20 games.

 

[Nyrvana]

The better Cally plays, the more likely Tampa signs him and we get a 2nd rounder back. Works for me.

 

[Ghost of jas]

The better Cally plays, the more likely Tampa signs him and we get a 2nd rounder back. Works for me.

Exactly...let him make TB want to re-sign him. Otherwise, consider me unconcerned with he does.

 

[haveandare]

It's only a select few haters, was at the Phoenix game, and a lot of bring back Cally chants, and a one "Go back to Tampa" yelled at St Louis. No, it was not me chanting that. lol.

the guy wanted to get paid after seeing his friends get their pay days, and the Rangers bringing in these UFAs for crazy money. In the end he came down to a fair amount maybe a little higher, but it was getting no NTC which sent it south.

His friends got paid reasonable amounts for their services.

Girardi plays a more important position, plays almost half an hour a night, and actually signed a contract for considerably less than Callahan was even willing to think about signing.

Hank got paid like a boss, but he is also debatably the best at his position in the entire world. Callahan is a very good winger, but in no universe is he even close to the best RW in the game.

Cally's friends got paid what they deserved. The Rangers offered Callahan what he deserved and then some, and that wasn't enough for him.

As for other, dumber UFAs getting more, the idea that making a mistake once means it's okay to make it again and again is silly to me.

I liked Callahan as a Ranger a lot. One of the best guys, if not the best guy, of his entire wave of Rangers players. However, there is really no excuse in my eyes for him demanding the money he was demanding. He's free to ask for whatever he wants of course, but I mean there is no logic that makes his demands sensible. He wants more than he's worth, by quite a bit, and that's fine. He just was never going to get that here. I'm happy to hear that he's doing well in TB. It'll be interesting to see what he ends up getting paid and where when this is all done.

 

[Callagraves]

As much as I want to say that Cally and MSL are both making the Rangers look like idiots, that's going to be decided in the playoffs.

Considering that Callahan has become a fan-favorite in Tampa already, and MSL is having some trouble with the pressure, it's not looking good.

 

[Leonardo87]

His friends got paid reasonable amounts for their services.

Girardi plays a more important position, plays almost half an hour a night, and actually signed a contract for considerably less than Callahan was even willing to think about signing.

Hank got paid like a boss, but he is also debatably the best at his position in the entire world. Callahan is a very good winger, but in no universe is he even close to the best RW in the game.

Cally's friends got paid what they deserved. The Rangers offered Callahan what he deserved and then some, and that wasn't enough for him.

As for other, dumber UFAs getting more, the idea that making a mistake once means it's okay to make it again and again is silly to me.

I liked Callahan as a Ranger a lot. One of the best guys, if not the best guy, of his entire wave of Rangers players. However, there is really no excuse in my eyes for him demanding the money he was demanding. He's free to ask for whatever he wants of course, but I mean there is no logic that makes his demands sensible. He wants more than he's worth, by quite a bit, and that's fine. He just was never going to get that here. I'm happy to hear that he's doing well in TB. It'll be interesting to see what he ends up getting paid and where when this is all done.

Valiant points but I still think Sather should of given him the NTC for at least the first 4 years. It seems he did not want to give him any NTC, which I can understand why Cally did not sign.

Also, looking at this season, which he has turned it around since in Tampa in a big way, he was not being played right by AV, and the biggest sting was not putting him back on the PP, and he one of the better players on the PP in the league. He has 6 PPG now, top Ranger players have 6 also, but have played much less games than him. That last injury set him back the most, it was a fluke injury, with the amount of hits he has, the way he turned just was a fluke.

I don;t think 6 Million for 6 years is taking a huge risk, in a cap going up every year, and someone who has been homegrown and you know what to expect. I just think he could of been having an excellent season and he still would not have gotten that contract from Sather.

The guy wants to win, so I don't see him going to Buffalo, his agent is likely using Buffalo as negotiating leverage.

 

[haveandare]

Valiant points but I still think Sather should of given him the NTC for at least the first 4 years. It seems he did not want to give him any NTC, which I can understand why Cally did not sign.

Also, looking at this season, which he has turned it around since in Tampa in a big way, he was not being played right by AV, and the biggest sting was not putting him back on the PP, and he one of the better players on the PP in the league. He has 6 PPG now, top Ranger players have 6 also, but have played much less games than him. That last injury set him back the most, it was a fluke injury, with the amount of hits he has, the way he turned just was a fluke.

I don;t think 6 Million for 6 years is taking a huge risk, in a cap going up every year, and someone who has been homegrown and you know what to expect. I just think he could of been having an excellent season and he still would not have gotten that contract from Sather.

The guy wants to win, so I don't see him going to Buffalo, his agent is likely using Buffalo as negotiating leverage.

I'm not sure the contract would have been a good idea with or without the NTC. At the rate it was paying Callahan, I'm not sure an NTC would have even made a difference. Who would trade for him at that salary for those years?

He definitely should have been on the PP more, but let's not forget that the PP, which had been the bane of this team's existence just last year, was clicking very well when Cally came back and was left off. While he's definitely one of the bed PP players in the league, I can understand why he was left off for that time given how well the PP was producing.

I just think it is/was on both management and the player to get together and be realistic. Most people on these boards hate the management with a passion, and I don't really blame them, but that leads to only seeing one side of the equation. Callahan, his agent, whoever was making the decisions on hard numbers to offer and stick at, is every bit as guilt as Sather for not trying to work this out. Despite all the talk on both sides, neither party seemed real interested in making a new deal here work. Cally was a great leader here on the ice, but in this case, he didn't act like a great leader. That's fine. He's not beholden to us or to the organization. I just don't think it's all on Sather to move toward Callahan's absurd demands, and I don't think Callahan's good production over a dozen games on a different team justifies his asking price. We'll see who pays him what I guess when it's all over. I'll be shocked if a competitive team gives him what he was asking the Rangers for.

 

[AHB*]

It's only a select few haters, was at the Phoenix game, and a lot of bring back Cally chants, and a one "Go back to Tampa" yelled at St Louis. No, it was not me chanting that. lol.

the guy wanted to get paid after seeing his friends get their pay days, and the Rangers bringing in these UFAs for crazy money. In the end he came down to a fair amount maybe a little higher, but it was getting no NTC which sent it south.

I didn't hear one chant like this and I was at the game also.

Also, regardless of what the Rangers offered, I don't think a "fair amount" is 6+million for him.

Look at the other guys in the league making that cap hit, then come back and tell me he's worth it.

I love the guy to death, but a 20 game hot streak, and what he did 3 seasons ago, does not make him worth the price we, or another team will have to pay.

And yes, a couple of his "buddies" got paydays, such as Henrik (likely hall of famer), Richards (has declined but was easily the best center/player on the market, also was a near elite player), and Girardi (top pairing RHD are WAYYYYY harder to come by then a RW).

So if you look at those guys, their pedigrees are worth significantly more then Callahan. You don't get paid because your "buddies" do. You get paid for what you PROJECT to be over the term of that contract.

Just because one player (or in our history, many) gets paid a lot and doesn't perform, doesn't mean we should perpetually continue to make that mistake, even with our homegrown talent.

Again, love the guy, but this is a business, and both the Rangers and Callahan acted as such. No hard feelings, but certainly no sympathy either.

 

[AHB*]

As much as I want to say that Cally and MSL are both making the Rangers look like idiots, that's going to be decided in the playoffs.

Considering that Callahan has become a fan-favorite in Tampa already, and MSL is having some trouble with the pressure, it's not looking good.

Not looking good? One guy is known for being clutch, while Callahan has been nothing but a complete enigma in the playoffs.

St. Louis is over a PPG player in the playoffs. Ryan Callahan is not even at a half point/game.

I don't like the trade one iota. I wouldn't have given Callahan that contract, but I also don't like trading top picks for aging vets. But if I have the choice of going into the playoffs with Callahan or St. Louis, it's not even a question who you pick.

St. Louis has been bad, but there's not even a question of who is the better player. A 15 game stretch (which will certainly level out) does not change that.

 

[Callagraves]

Not looking good? One guy is known for being clutch, while Callahan has been nothing but a complete enigma in the playoffs.

St. Louis is over a PPG player in the playoffs. Ryan Callahan is not even at a half point/game.

I don't like the trade one iota. I wouldn't have given Callahan that contract, but I also don't like trading top picks for aging vets. But if I have the choice of going into the playoffs with Callahan or St. Louis, it's not even a question who you pick.

St. Louis has been bad, but there's not even a question of who is the better player. A 15 game stretch (which will certainly level out) does not change that.

I don't have any illusions about who the better player is. MSL is an elite Right winger, a superstar, who is pushing 40. Ryan Callahan is a 50-60 point jack of all trades with a nasty habit of getting injured filling his role.

But if the playoffs start tomorrow, I have to seriously consider which one you take with you. MSL hasn't just been snake-bit, he's been one of the worst players on the ice in more than a few games. We KNOW how much better he is/has been, but there is a decent question of how good he will continue to be, short term and maybe long.

He's a documented fitness freak, and broke into the league late, but how long can he stave off age?

The way he's been playing, there are ALOT of players I'd prefer to take to war over MSL. The fact that the guy we traded him for happens to be on fire at the moment just highlight's the real problem: our 2 best forwards have a nasty habit of being 2 of our worst.

 

[haveandare]

I don't have any illusions about who the better player is. MSL is an elite Right winger, a superstar, who is pushing 40. Ryan Callahan is a 50-60 point jack of all trades with a nasty habit of getting injured filling his role.

But if the playoffs start tomorrow, I have to seriously consider which one you take with you. MSL hasn't just been snake-bit, he's been one of the worst players on the ice in more than a few games. We KNOW how much better he is/has been, but there is a decent question of how good he will continue to be, short term and maybe long.

He's a documented fitness freak, and broke into the league late, but how long can he stave off age?

The way he's been playing, there are ALOT of players I'd prefer to take to war over MSL. The fact that the guy we traded him for happens to be on fire at the moment just highlight's the real problem: our 2 best forwards have a nasty habit of being 2 of our worst.

I keep reading this. Based on what, exactly?

He's not scoring, and he needs to score, but I don't understand where this idea that he's been awful or a liability is coming from.

 

[AHB*]

I don't have any illusions about who the better player is. MSL is an elite Right winger, a superstar, who is pushing 40. Ryan Callahan is a 50-60 point jack of all trades with a nasty habit of getting injured filling his role.

But if the playoffs start tomorrow, I have to seriously consider which one you take with you. MSL hasn't just been snake-bit, he's been one of the worst players on the ice in more than a few games. We KNOW how much better he is/has been, but there is a decent question of how good he will continue to be, short term and maybe long.

He's a documented fitness freak, and broke into the league late, but how long can he stave off age?

The way he's been playing, there are ALOT of players I'd prefer to take to war over MSL. The fact that the guy we traded him for happens to be on fire at the moment just highlight's the real problem: our 2 best forwards have a nasty habit of being 2 of our worst.

I'll take the tried and true, clutch playoff performer (who, by the way, is leading the NHL in points over the past 2-3-4 seasons). Regardless of age, the guy knows how to play and will come around.

AGain, absolutely not a question who you take in the playoffs. 100 out of 100 MSL. Callahan, as much as I love him, is a choke artist when pressure is on.

 

[Callagraves]

I keep reading this. Based on what, exactly?

He's not scoring, and he needs to score, but I don't understand where this idea that he's been awful or a liability is coming from.

Primarily, turnovers. He has been getting knocked off the puck easier than I've ever seen, including this year with Tampa. He's a guy who thrives with the puck on his stick, but he can't seem to either A) Stay on his feet, or B) keep the puck on his stick.

A player who lives and dies with puck possession who can't possess the puck is practically a non-factor. My hope is that when he has a break out game, it'll ignite a bit of a fire, give him a little more fight, which'll lead to some better play.

Right now, I'm not seeing anything from him that looks like the elite winger we acquired from Tampa. He looks like a guy who got the trade he wanted, and can't believe it's not working out for him.

 

[Callagraves]

I'll take the tried and true, clutch playoff performer (who, by the way, is leading the NHL in points over the past 2-3-4 seasons). Regardless of age, the guy knows how to play and will come around.

AGain, absolutely not a question who you take in the playoffs. 100 out of 100 MSL. Callahan, as much as I love him, is a choke artist when pressure is on.

Might be the fan in me, but I don't really see this. Scoring tends to dip in the playoffs, and the sample size is infinitely smaller. Some players numbers look ridiculous because of one or two good/bad playoffs (Brassard, Nash, Gaborik).

Entire Ranger teams have had trouble scoring in the playoffs. How a player is considered a playoff performer changes depending on a few numbers. Personally, I don't put much into the "better/worse" in the playoffs labels. It's all still hockey, and some players are hot/cold throughout.

I want MSL to prove me wrong, and become my new favorite player. I haven't seen anything from him to inspire any confidence though. I wouldn't be surprised if he happens to have caught Rangeritis, and this is more or less it for him.

 

[AHB*]

Might be the fan in me, but I don't really see this. Scoring tends to dip in the playoffs, and the sample size is infinitely smaller. Some players numbers look ridiculous because of one or two good/bad playoffs (Brassard, Nash, Gaborik).

Entire Ranger teams have had trouble scoring in the playoffs. How a player is considered a playoff performer changes depending on a few numbers. Personally, I don't put much into the "better/worse" in the playoffs labels. It's all still hockey, and some players are hot/cold throughout.

I want MSL to prove me wrong, and become my new favorite player. I haven't seen anything from him to inspire any confidence though. I wouldn't be surprised if he happens to have caught Rangeritis, and this is more or less it for him.

Don't really know how you haven't seen this. And I'm not labeling Nash or Brassard here. Brassard and Nash have basically only had one playoffs. Both don't have the long-term track record. Callahan on the other hand has played in 59 playoff games. That's not a small sample size. And in fact, is relatively close to MSL's.

Your example actually only speaks more to mine. In those small sample sizes, Brassard specifically, he has 12 less points then Callahan, in one fifth of the games played.

The Rangers haven't been world beaters in the playoffs by any means, but one of there most relied upon players in Callahan was a big part of that problem, considering he pretty much NEVER showed up for the games.

Also, I've despised the MSL trade from before it happened and have only been proven right thus far, but to say he's a liability and one of the teams worst players is flat out wrong. He hasn't been good, but he's been getting chances. Underwhelming/underperforming, sure, liability/awful, no.

 

[aufheben]

Don't really know how you haven't seen this. And I'm not labeling Nash or Brassard here. Brassard and Nash have basically only had one playoffs. Both don't have the long-term track record. Callahan on the other hand has played in 59 playoff games. That's not a small sample size. And in fact, is relatively close to MSL's.

Your example actually only speaks more to mine. In those small sample sizes, Brassard specifically, he has 12 less points then Callahan, in one fifth of the games played.

The Rangers haven't been world beaters in the playoffs by any means, but one of there most relied upon players in Callahan was a big part of that problem, considering he pretty much NEVER showed up for the games.

Also, I've despised the MSL trade from before it happened and have only been proven right thus far, but to say he's a liability and one of the teams worst players is flat out wrong. He hasn't been good, but he's been getting chances. Underwhelming/underperforming, sure, liability/awful, no.

He hasn't even been getting chances recently though. Take out the flu game in which he had 11:00 TOI, and he still has 4 shots in the last 4 games.

 

[AHB*]

He hasn't even been getting chances recently though. Take out the flu game in which he had 11:00 TOI, and he still has 4 shots in the last 4 games.

I can't sit here and defend the guy, because I've been as disappointed as anyone. Not to mention, I was adamantly against the trade from the start.

I just don't think he's been a liability is all.

Unless we win a cup wit him, I'll hate this trade forever.

 

[Leonardo87]

I didn't hear one chant like this and I was at the game also.

Also, regardless of what the Rangers offered, I don't think a "fair amount" is 6+million for him.

Look at the other guys in the league making that cap hit, then come back and tell me he's worth it.

I love the guy to death, but a 20 game hot streak, and what he did 3 seasons ago, does not make him worth the price we, or another team will have to pay.

And yes, a couple of his "buddies" got paydays, such as Henrik (likely hall of famer), Richards (has declined but was easily the best center/player on the market, also was a near elite player), and Girardi (top pairing RHD are WAYYYYY harder to come by then a RW).

So if you look at those guys, their pedigrees are worth significantly more then Callahan. You don't get paid because your "buddies" do. You get paid for what you PROJECT to be over the term of that contract.

Just because one player (or in our history, many) gets paid a lot and doesn't perform, doesn't mean we should perpetually continue to make that mistake, even with our homegrown talent.

Again, love the guy, but this is a business, and both the Rangers and Callahan acted as such. No hard feelings, but certainly no sympathy either.

With all that said Richards needs to be bought out, just because he is buddies with MSL, the contract is bad now, it will just get worse.

If Richards is not bought out Sather is willing to be handcuffed with a player for the next 6 years, at almost a 7 million cap hit.

 

[qwertyaas]

Haters quick to forget what he meant to this team for 8 years

People remeber perfectly well. We also remember he was more than able to ink a deal but was playing hard ball.

6x6m for your third RW on the depth chart doesn't make sense. Yet he was offered that. And refused.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

People can keep arguing about Callahan, but he was offered 6m per by the Rangers and he refused that offer. What else is there to do? We just cannot afford more money for a 2nd or 3rd line winger. The salary cap is what caused Cally to be traded.