Much like Braydon Coburn’s entrance around that time, Ryan Callahan’s arrival in Tampa Bay signaled the beginning of a truly competitive era for the Tampa Bay Lightning. Those 2014 and 2015 teams were right on the cusp of something special, with the payoff finally coming in 2020. Regrettably, injury woes and cap gymnastics prevented Callahan from being a formal part of the 2020 team and celebration; and, after 757 career NHL games, the former Bolt today announced his retirement from the sport:
While it likely wasn’t the ending that Callahan dreamed of when he first laced up his skates, history will surely be kind to the five-foot-ten winger. Over the course of those 757 games, the last of which was played in 2018-19, Callahan tallied 186 goals and 200 assists. For an under-sized, fourth-round pick to make that kind of impact, a lot has to go right. For Callahan, a lot went right because of his unwavering commitment to the sport, his lay-it-on-the-line style of play, and his dedication to his teammates.
Those aforementioned qualities made him a favourite both in the room and out, with fans in New York and Tampa being lucky enough to watch them on display nightly for more than a decade. Perhaps the best evidence of his popularity is the fact that Lightning fans embraced him almost immediately, despite being involved in the deal that sent the team’s all-time great, Martin St. Louis, out of town. It’s difficult to remember another player in modern history endearing himself to the Lightning fan base like Callahan did, which is especially impressive considering the circumstances of his arrival.
So, with all that in mind, it wasn’t surprising to learn that the Lightning remembered Callahan and the impact he had when they reached hockey’s highest peak this past Fall:
Lightning Captain Steven Stamkos taking the time to call Callahan right after the Cup victory suggests that the impact Callahan had on the fan base was matched or exceeded by the impact he had in the dressing room. This was a special player who clearly did so much more than his counting stats or underlying numbers might have suggested. Even though he hadn’t played for them since 2019, and even though his contract officially said “Ottawa Senators” at the top, he was still a part of this team.
As Callahan moves into the next chapter of his life, it’s impossible to wish him anything but the absolute best. Whether that means more work with his Ryan Callahan Foundation, more time spent with family, or anything else, Callahan has earned our well-wishes. Congratulations on a memorable and meaningful career!
As always, thanks for reading.
Tampa Bay Lightning Blogger • 
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