Anyone wonder if Cally has already determined he wants to go home to upstate - and has named his price such that the Rangers will actually have to pay a premium to keep him?
Long time no speak here...hope everyone is well.
There is absolutely no way IMO that Callahan goes to a dysfunctional non-playoff small market and no shot at a cup in the foreseeable future team while he is in his prime over a few bucks. Not ever ever happening. The ONLY reason it comes it up is because it is where he grew up.
But think about it...There has to be a sense of enjoyment when thinking about testing a free agent market. With the CBA, you get to do it once, maybe twice in your career. Guys like Vanek are clearly bypassing an extension to see what it's like and you can't blame them. It's what the NHL/NHLPA has done to the market with the CBA.
Which brings up the point of testing the UFA market for the first and maybe only time in your career vs signing an extension with the Rangers. There's legitimately one time in your entire career that a player has leverage with the new CBA, and Ryan is taking advantage. Can you blame him? Can you blame Glen for calling his bluff.
Ultimately I feel like an agreement is reached for an extension. Callahan likely does not want to leave over the terms he can achieve, and Glen doesn't want to trade his captain in the midst of a solid run. Both sides are simply playing the cards they have in reality they aren't far apart.
I don't think Callahan is the kind of guy to take a few extra dollars in the FA market to play elsewhere. If he does, it'll be good riddance and good for him at the same time for taking the one piece of leverage he will have in his career to his advantage.
Overall, it would be a sad state of affairs in the NHL if a large market team in playoff position on a great run can't hold on to it's captain because the CBA is so one-sided. It is not a winning situation for the league, team or player. It will likewise be sad that the player(s) have so little leverage throughout their career that he needs to take as much advantage as he can in this situation.