Tampa Bay Lightning’s Ryan Callahan Out Indefinitely
The Tampa Bay Lightning will be playing Game 6 against the Montreal Canadiens without alternate captain Ryan Callahan. According to several reports, including NHL.com, Callahan had an emergency appendectomy Monday and will be out indefinitely.
Ryan Callahan had an emergency appendectomy tonight at Tampa General and his return to the ice is undetermined at this point. #TBLightning
— Bryan Burns (@BBurnsNHL) May 12, 2015
Throughout this postseason Callahan has yet to register a goal, but he has three assists and a team high plus-7 rating. Even with the lack of production losing Callahan will be a big blow for the Lightning. He plays a gritty and grinding style of hockey. He makes players turn over the puck through being a nuisance.
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Callahan may only be 5’ 11” and 190 lbs., but he plays like he’s a giant. He hits hard and doesn’t back down from anyone. Callahan is not afraid to lay out the body to block a shot or get in someone’s face to defend a teammate. He also likes to post up right in front of the net, blocking the goalie’s vision.
Tampa will feel the loss, but it still has high-scoring players in the lineup. Since Callahan played on the top line, Jon Cooper will have to do some shuffling, but that shouldn’t be a major issue.
Personally, I am distraught over this news. Callahan is by far my favorite player in the NHL and I have watched him play throughout his entire professional career. I love and respect the way he plays the game, but what I respect most is how he handles himself. He leads by example and never throws anyone under the bus. He doesn’t badmouth opponents or stir up media controversy, and he cares more about the team than himself. Callahan might not be a superstar like Stamkos, Alex Ovechkin or Corey Perry, but he is the all-around player I would want out on the ice. He can play in any and all situations and never takes a shift off. Callahan wants to win and I really hope, if not this year, he achieves his goal.
While I’ll be mourning the loss, many others will be doing the same if both Tampa and the New York Rangers move on. With the Callahan-Marty St. Louis trade in 2014, these two teams meeting in the conference finals would be electric. Unfortunately, if Callahan can’t play it won’t be the same experience.
Hopefully, Callahan has some of Patrick Kane’s super fast healing powers and is back on the ice in no time.
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