{"id":49495,"date":"2019-06-20T18:31:58","date_gmt":"2019-06-20T22:31:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/?p=49495"},"modified":"2019-06-20T18:31:58","modified_gmt":"2019-06-20T22:31:58","slug":"ryan-callahan-out-indefinitely","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2019\/06\/20\/ryan-callahan-out-indefinitely\/","title":{"rendered":"Ryan Callahan Placed on Long-Term Injury Reserve by Tampa Bay Lightning"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Tampa Bay Lightning<\/a>\u00a0announced today that forward\u00a0Ryan Callahan<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>is out indefinitely with a degenerative back condition. The team has placed the veteran on long-term injury reserve.<\/p>\n

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We have announced Ryan Callahan will be placed on long-term injury reserve. https:\/\/t.co\/2amMi49Y2e<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) June 20, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Ryan Callahan Out Indefinitely<\/h2>\n

This injury can help explain why Callahan hasn’t been able to regain the prowess he once had. While still effective, he only played in 52 games this season, mostly in a fourth-line role. He’s actually never played a full 82-game campaign in his career. He came close three seasons ago, in 2015-16. In the seasons since then, he’s tallied 18, 67, and 52 games respectfully. Injuries have been a major factor in what likely ended up being the final years of his career.<\/p>\n

This past season, specifically, Callahan tallied seven goals and ten assists for 17 points in those 52 games. His possession numbers were 47.5% Corsi and a relative Corsi of -4.7.<\/p>\n

Over his career, he has 186 goals and 200 assists for 386 points in 757 career NHL games, split between the Lightning and New York Rangers<\/a>. The Rangers originally drafted him in the 4th round, 127th overall of the 2004 NHL Entry Draft.<\/p>\n

Lightning reporter Casey Chelios states that this is a potentially career-ending issue, according to Lightning staff.<\/p>\n

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BREAKING NEWS: Julien BriseBois stated today that forward Ryan Callahan has been diagnosed with degenerative back disease and recommended that he no longer play professional hockey.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Caley Chelios (@CaleyChelios) June 20, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

What This Means for the Future<\/h3>\n

Obviously, for Callahan and fans, this is devastating news. While coming close with the Lightning in 2015, he never won a Stanley Cup in his 13-year career. But due to his intense playing style with a relatively small frame, this injury doesn’t permit him to continue his career. He leaves a hole in Tampa’s lineup, as their fourth line will miss his hard work and tenacious forecheck.<\/p>\n

If this is really the end of the road for Ryan Callahan, he’ll certainly be missed by Lightning fans and players around the league.<\/p>\n

Main Photo:<\/p>\n

Embed from Getty Images<\/a>