New York Rangers avoid arbitration hearing; sign forward Ryan Callahan –NHL offseason Update
New York Rangers avoided all odds and a future distasteful salary arbitration hearing by signing their alternative captain, Ryan Callahan, who became a restricted free agent on July 1 during the 2011 National Hockey League (NHL) free agency, to a three-year,
$12.875 million contract on Wednesday.
Callahan had filed for salary arbitration on July 5, of which the hearing was scheduled for just a day after the signing on Thursday. The situation resembled such which teammate Brandon Dubinsky faced nearly a week ago as Rangers signed him on the day his
hearing was to begin.
According to Callahan, he would not have wanted it any other way.
“I’m thrilled to be back for three years. I love playing for the Rangers. I'm excited to be back and to have this behind me and concentrate on the season. I was hoping it would get done but you never really know how it's going to go in these negotiations.
I definitely didn't want to go to arbitration and only go on a one-year deal. I'm really happy it didn't have to come to that", said Callahan.
Selected as the 127th overall draft pick during round-four of the 2004 NHL Entry Draft by New York, Ryan Callahan, a 26-year-old right winger from Rochester, New York, United States, will now be entering his sixth straight season with his original
draft team.
The young forward played his first 14 major league games with New York during the 2006-2007 season in which he recorded six points (4 goals,2 assists), since then, Callahan has come a long way. The last three seasons, he has put up 35 plus points.
Last season, Callahan recorded career high number by scoring 48 points (23 goals, 25 assists), even though he was limited to play on 60 games due to an injury he sustained during game-play.
Ryan Callahan has much to look forward to as the team looks to name him captain after Rangers bought out former captain Chris Drury’s contract. Other mentionable names in the front for captaincy include defenseman Marc Staal and one of the leagues’ top centre
players, Brad Richards, who they recently acquired in the free agency.
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