The NY Rangers have been involved in trade rumors with Ryan Callhan all season and as the deadline gets closer, teams like the Pittsburgh Penguins, Toronto Maple Leafs, Boston Bruins, Vancouver Canucks, Anaheim Ducks and Chicago Blackhawks could be interested if the two sides cannot agree on a new contract and now he has been traded for Martin St. Louis at the deadline with the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Callahan and the Rangers have been at odds all season about the length and amount of money in the contract and now that the deadline is just a day away, pressure is mounting to get a deal done. According to ESPN.com, Callahan originally wanted a seven year deal, but the report says that he is now willing to go for six and now the biggest sticking point is the amount of money. The team has offered between $5 million and $6 million per season, while the Rangers captain is looking for over six to $7 million per year.
The Rangers were also rumored to be trading Dan Girardi, but the two sides came in on a deal and now Girardi and Henrik Lundqvist have both signed long term deals and Callahan could be next. Head coach Alain Vigneault said that he expects Callahan and the team to come to an agreement, but the closer it gets to the deadline, the more unlikely that will be.
There are a number of teams that could be interested in Callahan, including the Tampa Bay Lightning, as they have a nice trade chip in Martin St. Louis, while the Buffalo Sabres could be a surprise option if they want to sign him long term. The Rangers would rather trade Callahan now than to just let him leave as a free agent, but overall Glen Sather would rather keep the captain than trade him. This season Callahan has just 11 goals and 14 assists, but he is one of the longest tenured players on the team and is a true leader on the roster.
The LA Kings could be a surprise option for the Rangers, while the Penguins and Blackhawks also could step up to the plate. Callahan is a very good and durable player and apart from injuries this season he has mostly been healthy in his career, playing in 60 games or more every season over the past five years apart from the lockout year. His best season came in 2011-12 when he had 54 points and he scored 29 goals that season, but he has declined in the two years since.
The Rangers would rather not trade Callahan, but if they can't come in on a deal with him Sather may have no choice. Callahan said that he will be willing to go for six years, but the money is still an issue and he wants around $6.25 and $6.5 million per season and that is more than the $6 million the Rangers want to give,. The team just signed Girardi and will be tight on the cap with Callahan, Rick Nash, Lundqvist and Brad Richards, but losing the captain is something Sather does not want for the Rangers.
