Callahan is a replaceable player. Forget nostalgia. Minnesota traded Clutterbuck, who was their Callahan.
Everything hinges on the Richards buyout. Richards is playing better this year than he did in 2012.
Id rather keep Richards than Callahan. But thats just me. I put a premium on center depth more than on the flanks. If Callahan and Girardi are extended, Richards knows hes a dead man walking heading into a playoff run.
Callahan is married with kids. His wife has a massive say in where he goes next. Lots of factors go into making a career commitment.
One Cup in 73 years. Trust me when I say Ryan Callahan will not make or break a Stanley Cup in 2014.
Trade him.
Come on man, Callahan is not clutter buck. and how you could say you'd prefer to keep Richards to callahan, it makes me want to call it a night. And I respect you, I know your handle and your certainly a long time fan. But I feel like so many are forgetting all the things Callahan has done over the years, in every single game. There is a reason while so many teams are interested or sincerely surprised the Rangers would let him go. He plays big in important situations. Just bc he hasn't scored much in the playoffs, the guy is just a winning championship player. Simple and plan, he contributions go way beyond the scoresheet, and Im not talking about locker room or leadership intangibles, Im talking about tangible plays that need to be made throughout the game to win the game.
I have seensome slow down on the part of callahan since the beginning of the lockout shortened season, but to be honest, it was organization wide. I think they looked at the lockout as a sure thing before it happened, and they all vacationed, either physically or mentally. The whole team was going soft, bc they thought have had a breakout year in 2011-2012 and bringing in nash and having kreider, that they were gonna be able to win, not giving that same effort. Everyone was guilty of it.
And I see how people say he doesn't go as hard or balls to the wall as in the past, I can see it when its happening. But I also believe, come stretch run and then the playoffs he is going to play the same way he has, his entire career.
Addtionally, I just thought of this. Last year there was no training camp. and this year callahan was recovering/rehabbing from surgery and couldn't train the way he normally would pre-camp and even though he partook (sp) in training camp, he couldn't have any contact, played no pre-season games. Then broke a bone, rushed back again. It's very selective that people are saying how much Callahan has fallen off, etc when there has been legitimate factors which would lead to rust, being slower then normal, not being as effective.