Callahan named Rangers' 26th captain
Rangers right wing Ryan Callahan reacts to a second period goal by Marian Gaborik against the Islanders at Madison Square Garden. Credit: Christopher Pasatieri
GREENBURGH, N.Y. -- In the past two years under John Tortorella, the Rangers have been trying to develop an identity. Ryan Callahan, named the team's 26th captain Monday, personifies exactly what Tortorella envisions for his team.
"We're a straight-ahead team, a hard-working hockey club, no nonsense," Tortorella said, and paused. "Who am I talking about? The hockey club or Cally?"
In other words, a perfect fit. Callahan, 26, epitomizes the heart and grit of these Blueshirts. Drafted in 2004, the tenacious right wing rose through the system on moxie and talent. Wearing an ''A'' as an alternate captain to Chris Drury, the Rochester native scored a career-high 23 goals last season, despite being limited to 60 games by a broken hand and ankle.
Callahan, who captained his junior team in Guelph for two years, is the first home-grown captain since Brian Leetch, and succeeds Drury, who was bought out in June. Both he and defenseman Marc Staal, who wore an ''A'' last season and will again, got a taste of leadership duties when Drury missed three-quarters of the year with injuries. Tortorella went to Callahan and Staal for input on practice and days off.
"There comes with it [the 'C'] a little more of a leadership role and some more responsibilities," Callahan said. "At the same time, I have to continue to do what I do and not let a letter affect my game or how I approach a game."
Off the ice, Tortorella watched Callahan grow. "Not just scoring the big goal or finishing his checks," he said. "It's how he relates to the players . . . I did say to him, when you get into this situation, it's not always about making everybody happy -- it's what's best for the hockey club, and how you handle yourself in certain situations.
"He'll handle it the right way . . . He has the respect of his teammates, coaches, the respect of the organization."
Brad Richards, 31, who signed a nine-year, $60-million contract, will wear the other ''A'' and bring veteran savvy to the mix. He called Callahan and Staal "warriors . . . That's the core of the team, young guys that are going to be here for a while. I'm just going to try to help out, but these guys have a pretty good grasp of what's going on . . . That role was going to be on me no matter what. They're not expecting me to come in here, hide in the corner and not talk."
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