Former New York Rangers and Tampa Bay Lightning forward Ryan Callahan has sadly decided to retire from the NHL. He missed last year while battling a back injury. Some might have thought the veteran could make one final run, but he is ending his career after a very successful career. Callahan announced his decision Wednesday morning.
— Ryan Callahan (@TheRealCally24) December 30, 2020
Ryan Callahan Retires
Callahan struggled with health in his last few seasons up through his last campaign in 2018-19. His last playing year saw the New York native scored seven goals and 17 points in 52 games. It was clear that his health was affecting his performance with declining ice time and underlying possession numbers. Callahan might have recovered to the point he could play in 2020-21, but there’s no reason to come back for the short season we’ll see this year.
The Rangers originally drafted Callahan in the fourth round of the 2004 Draft, but he didn’t debut until 2006-07 with four goals and six points in 14 games. His first significant action came the following year when he skated in 53 games, scoring 22 goals and 40 points in the process. Callahan’s best run came from 2008-09 through 2011-12 where his lowest output was 19 goals and 37 points in 77 games. He earned votes for the Selke Trophy each season during that stretch. The Rangers traded Callahan to the Lightning in 2014 in exchange for Martin St. Louis. The Lightning then traded him to the Ottawa Senators in 2019, but he never skated for the Canadian franchise. Callahan ends his career with 186 goals and 386 points in 757 NHL games. He also posted 20 goals and 39 points in 121 postseason contests.
Callahan’s Legacy
Callahan has every reason to be proud of his career. He was a smaller forward drafted outside of the first round and still managed to have a respectable career. He is currently 13th among 2004 draftees in scoring ahead of higher selections such as Wojtek Wolski and Carl Soderberg. It’s a career worthy of respect for someone without a top pedigree. Though he didn’t win a Stanley Cup, he went to the 2014 Stanley Cup Final with the Rangers. Not only that but he represented Team USA at the Olympics and won a silver medal in 2010.
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