FILE PHOTO: Mar 21, 2019; Raleigh, NC, USA; Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Ryan Callahan (24) celebrates his third period goal against the Carolina Hurricanes at PNC Arena. The Tampa Bay Lightning defeated the Carolina Hurricanes 6-3. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports
January 4, 2021
Ryan Callahan announced his retirement from the NHL on Wednesday morning.
The former Tampa Bay Lightning and New York Rangers forward was diagnosed with a degenerative back disease last year. He spent last season on long-term injured reserve with the Senators, who acquired him from Tampa Bay in July 2019 with the Lightning’s fifth-round pick in the 2020 NHL Draft for Mike Condon and Ottawa’s sixth-round selection.
Callahan, 35, did not play for the Senators.
“Let’s make it official. I did not play last year due to a back injury, but I am officially announcing my retirement from the NHL,” Callahan wrote Wednesday on Twitter. “Reflecting on my career, it’s hard to wrap my head around how lucky and grateful I am for being able to live out my childhood dream for 13 amazing years.”
Callahan went on to thank the Rangers and Lightning in his lengthy Twitter post.
A New York native, he eclipsed the 20-goal mark four times in his NHL career that began with the Rangers in the 2006-07 season. After seven-plus seasons there, he went to the Lightning in 2014 in a trade that sent Hockey Hall of Famer Martin St. Louis to New York.
“You gave us everything you had, every shift, every night,” the Rangers wrote in a tweet. “We thank you and salute you (Callahan) for an incredibly inspiring career.”
Callahan recorded 386 points (186 goals, 200 assists) in 757 career NHL games. He also represented Team USA at the 2010 and 2014 Winter Olympics, helping the Americans to a silver medal in Vancouver in 2010.
“I can honestly say I left it all on the ice and have zero regrets,” Callahan wrote. “Thanks to the game of hockey for all the unforgettable memories and lifelong friends I have made along the way! This is bye to the game I love for now, but I’m sure our paths will cross again in the near future.”
–Field Level Media
