Former Rangers captain Ryan Callahan calls it a career
So long, Captain Cally
Former New York Rangers captain and native New Yorker Ryan Callahan announced his retirement today.
— Ryan Callahan (@TheRealCally24) December 30, 2020
The former Rangers captain retires after 13 years and 757 career regular season games played, split between the Rangers and the Tampa Bay Lightning. Originally a fourth-round pick of the Rangers (127th overall) in the 2004 Draft, Callahan spent the first six years of his NHL career on Broadway before being traded to the Lightning in his seventh season in the deal that brought Martin St. Louis to New York. He scored 254 points in 450 games as a Ranger and succeeded Chris Drury as the team’s captain in the 2011-12 season. He served as captain until the 2013-14 season, the year he was traded to Tampa.
A tireless player with an infectious and inspiring work ethic, Callahan was a Garden favorite for years and established himself as both a part of the team’s core and its leadership group before being named captain. Since his departure, only one other player, Ryan McDonagh, has worn the “C” for New York.
“My proudest moment in my career was being able to wear the “C” on a Rangers sweater.”
Callahan, 35, did not play last season due to the back injury that ultimately ended his professional hockey career. He was traded to the Ottawa Senators on July 30, 2019 where he spent his last year as an NHLer on the injured reserve. He never suited up for Ottawa.
