Fansided

Rumor: Two Teams Pushing For Rangers’ Ryan Callahan

By Michael Straw

Jan 8, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; New York Rangers right wing Ryan Callahan (24) with the puck during the third period against the Chicago Blackhawks at the United Center. New York won 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 8, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; New York Rangers right wing Ryan Callahan (24) with the puck during the third period against the Chicago Blackhawks at the United Center. New York won 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports /
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Last week FanSided learned that the New York Rangers were taking calls on their captain Ryan Callahan to gauge what the interest was in the trade market for the USA Olympian. Today, FanSided has learned that there are at least two teams with heavy interest in the 28-year old winger.

One of the team’s, according to multiple NHL sources, is a team that the Rangers have become quite familiar with in terms of trades over the last two years while the other is a team out west that is looking to secure its place as the dominant team in the Pacific.

The Columbus Blue Jackets are in the midst of their best run in franchise history, having won eight straight games to put themselves in a perfect spot to make the playoffs. Still, the Blue Jackets know they can be better, and they feel that adding another veteran depth forward with the skill of Callahan’s could be what they need to not only secure just their second trip to the playoffs in franchise history, but actually win a series as well. The Blue Jackets have plethora of young talent that could be moved to grab Callahan, but it all depends on what the Rangers are asking for in return. More on that in a moment.

The other team with interest in the winger is the Anaheim Ducks. The Ducks sit atop the Pacific division with the best record in the NHL at 38-10-5 which is good for 81 points. Any regular NHL fan would assume that the team is prime for another Stanley Cup run, but that isn’t how general manager Bob Murray works. Murray is a man who is always looking to improve his team in any way, shape or form. Adding Callahan would give the team three high-quality lines that can put up points against any other team in the league. Even moreso than they are now. The only question is, what could the Ducks offer Rangers GM Glen Sather in return.

The sources stated that right now the asking price for Callahan is still too high for the liking of the Ducks, Blue Jackets or any other team. The price is at where it’s at currently because Sather still has hopes of re-signing his captain to a reasonable extension before he hits free agency in July. The Rangers are expected to go to Callahan’s camp right before the Olympic trade freeze that goes into effect on February 7th, and present an offer to him. Should that offer be either rejected or countered with what Sather believes to be an unreasonable counter-proposal, the Rangers are expected to lower the asking price for the player.

More to come…

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Michael Straw is a freelance sports journalist based in Buffalo, NY who has covered the Buffalo Sabres for four years. His work has been featured on WGR-550AM-Buffalo and Yahoo’s Puck Daddy blog. You can follow Michael for the latest NHL news and rumors on Twitter @TheMikeStraw

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