The First Annual DiPietro Award

Mar 27, 2014; Tampa, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Ryan Callahan (24) battles for the puck with New York Islanders center Frans Nielsen (51) during the first period at Tampa Bay Times Forum. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Ryan Callahan

Our next nominee is a current Tampa Bay Lightning winger and one-time New York Ranger captain who re-signed with Tampa this summer for six years at a $5,800,000 average cap hit.  “Cally” is known for bringing “grit,” “leadership,” “jam” and all those other wonderful intangibles they say you can’t put a price on (except in this case of course). A product of the New York and American media, Callahan’s reputation and recent play have far surpassed his actual usefulness as a player.  As I already spoke about when he first re-signed with Tampa Bay, Callahan receives far more credit for what he brings to a team, even if he doesn’t actually bring them anymore.

MYTH: he’s a playoff performer and any team would be lucky to have him in a playoff series; FACT: he’s produced 24 points in 63 career playoff games.  His most recent playoff showing was a goose egg on the stat sheet as Tampa was swept in round one.

MYTH: he is a great checker and takes the body effectively; FACT: while he does throw his body around, he has done it less and less over recent years, not surprising for a 29-year old who is under 200 pounds.  There’s only so much a small player’s body can take and nagging injuries have cost Callahan significant portions of games in four of his eight seasons.

MYTH: he’s a great leader and you can’t have enough of that; FACT: his Ranger clubs only advanced past round two of the playoffs once in his tenure and the Rangers had no problems shipping him off at the deadline and finishing with its best season in 20 years.  And of course Callahan’s new team was swept in the playoffs.  So much for the awesome leadership.

Callahan is a nice third-line player being paid like a legitimate top-six (or even top-three) forward and will be expected to produce.  Of course in his best season back in 2011/12 he put up 29 goals and 54 points. Solid, but hardly great.  And while we’re about to enter year one of a six year deal, something tells me we’ve already seen the best of Callahan, hence, he won’t be seeing the end of that deal.  A nominee for the DiPietro Award, it’ll just become another thing Callahan doesn’t win (but don’t tell the American media!)