New York Rangers: A Ryan Callahan reunion would be beneficial

With talk of the former New York Rangers captain, Ryan Callahan, possibly returning to Broadway, some wonder whether the 34-year-old grinder would be worth the acquisition.

A reunion between the New York Rangers and Ryan Callahan swirled during the 2018 offseason. Recently, it seems that more of the same is in store for this one.

At times last season, the now 34-year-old Callahan trickled down the Tampa Bay Lightning depth chart to healthy scratch status. With his struggles to consistently stay on the Bolts lineup card and a $5.8 million cap hit coming into the final season of his contract, he is likely to be dealt out of town.

After their stunning first-round exit, Tampa has some roster securing and retooling to do and there is just no way he will still be around by the end of it. It won’t be easy to pawn him off on a team for any worthwhile return, so the Lightning will have to include assets, such as a pick or prospect and/or cash to dump his cap hit. Otherwise, they could just buy him out.

There are a handful of teams that can suit Tampa in this endeavor, and I believe the Rangers are one of them.

The Rangers’ farm system is stronger than ever and is only continuing to grow. They can afford to exchange assets to take on Callahan in a reasonable transaction. This could be a great trade opportunity and Callahan just an added bonus.

Critics say that Callahan would just serve as the cap dump part any deal between the Blushirts and Lightning. He would make no difference to the 2019-20 roster. On the contrary, he is a player the team could benefit from – aside from the sentimental value of Callahan and the Rangers.

The Lightning have an entirely different landscape with their forwards (obviously) than New York Does. Cally is simply not a good fit there any longer. But, he is still undisputedly a unique NHL player, with a place in this league.

His work ethic and style of play embody what the New York Rangers organization have always been about. The current Broadway Blueshirts are getting younger and more skilled. Never the less, Captain Cally Crunch is a veteran presence who brings a die-hard role that could liberate the roster and light a fire under the young players.

Remember, despite what is coming in this draft and free agency, the New York Rangers are still at an awkward stage of the rebuild. With more veterans out the door this season, bringing in a high character guy is a good addition to the puzzle.

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Aside from a lineup perspective, this would be a great story for the fan base to rally around. Rangers supporters remember how tough it was to part with him in March 2014. Callahan has settled into Tampa over the last five-plus years. A return back to New York could be the smoothest transition for him at this stage of his career.

Acquiring Artemi Panarin is the number one priority and the Rangers will have to make decisions based off how that situation plays itself out. New team president John Davidson and GM Jeff Gorton will have their hands full landing the Russian scoring machine.

There are obviously reservations about his salary but again, based on the course of this offseason, it could be a worthy grab if accompanied with respectable assets and/or some retained salary to sweeten the pot. If the stars align, there is no harm in reuniting with Callahan – even if he is bought out by Tampa. It is a heartwarming idea. One of the most beloved Rangers of the century thus far returns home as a locker room leader to a whole new era of New York hockey.

The Rangers may want to keep things straight and clean like they have in their rebuild and not pursue a deal like this. But, that would be an irrational and short-sided decision.

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Callahan returning to the New York Rangers is more than just for “old times sake” though. He has a necessary role to fill on Broadway.

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