Get To Know a Ranger: Ryan Callahan

by David Getz on Apr 14, 2009 3:00 PM EDT

[Ed. note: As part of the build-up to the first round playoff series between the Capitals and the Rangers, Japers' Rink will be looking at some of the important but lesser-known players on the Rangers and how they might impact the series.]

Ryan Callahan

#24 / Right Wing / New York Rangers

Height: 5-11

Weight: 188

Born: Mar 21, 1985

Birthplace: Rochester, NY, USA

Drafted: 127th overall, 2004

Acquired: Via Draft

Strengths	Is tenacious on the forecheck and a very hard worker. Also owns a decent pair of hands and defensive acumen. Can play either wing position.
Weaknesses	The jury is still out on his long-range offensive potential at the highest level. Could use more size and strength to dominate in the corners.
Potential	Third line winger.

Regular Season	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	SOG	PCT
2006-07	14	4	2	6	5	9	0	0	1	40	10.0
2007-08	52	8	5	13	7	31	0	1	1	92	8.7
2008-09	81	22	18	40	6	45	2	1	1	237	9.3

Playoffs	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG	PCT
2006-07	10	2	1	3	1	6	1	0	0	0	26	7.7
2007-08	10	2	2	4	3	10	0	1	1	0	25	8.0

Why you should know who he is - Callahan was one of New York's more effective offensive players in 2008-09, his 22 goals being good enough to tie for third on the team, and his forechecking and aggressiveness (Callahan was fourth in the league, and third among forwards, in hits this season) could make life very difficult for the Caps' defensemen. That aggressiveness and physicality also has the potential to wear on the Capitals back line as the series goes on and lead to some sloppy play. Callahan is also an excellent defensive player.

How the Caps can stop him - Like Brandon Dubinsky, Callahan's production comes more from effort than from skill. While the Capitals can't really do anything to diminish Callahan's energy level, they can limit his effectiveness by limiting his opportunities to turn that energy into points. That means guys who don't always handle the puck all that well - Milan Jurcina, Jeff Schultz, and John Erskine - are going to need to be willing to take a hit and make sure they clear the zone effectively on the first attempt, and forwards are going to have to be smart with the puck and avoid turning it over in the neutral zone.

Tweet Comment 23 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

His +/- number on an overall minus team is pretty impressive.

At the risk of thrashing this point to a bloody, oozing pulp, he reminds me of the Mike Ridley/Mike Eagles/Dave Christian type of grinder forwards that used to typify the Caps lineup. Hard worker, good guy to have on the team…not enough juice to make a difference when the bright lights come on.

by fat_daddyo on Apr 14, 2009 3:06 PM EDT reply actions

Kindly remove Mike Eagles from the presence of two guys who scored 40+ goals wearing the red, white and blue. Thx.

Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world

by J.P. on Apr 14, 2009 3:13 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

Dude, you mean I have to support my positions with factual accuracy?

by fat_daddyo on Apr 14, 2009 3:15 PM EDT up reply actions

I’m a Ridley guy. You can’t drag him down to Mike Eagles’ level without expecting me to comment.

FWIW, Rids and Christian each scored more than 25 goals in a season 7 times. Eagles never bested 13 and was in double digits just three times (in 16 NHL seasons).

Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world

by J.P. on Apr 14, 2009 3:17 PM EDT up reply actions

Did Ridley and Christian ever make it to the finals in a Caps jersey? And, in fairness, even if Eagles had scored 40+ goals, it wouldn’t have been in RWB.

I'm so sick and tired of the refs explaining the calls like this is the NFL.

by Whiter Mage on Apr 14, 2009 3:18 PM EDT up reply actions

Yeah, it was all Eagles that year, as exemplified by the fact that he played in 12 of the Caps’ 21 playoff games that spring.

And I never made any mention of what jersey Eagles may have worn, but point taken, I guess.

All I was saying is that I don’t see much similarity between the types of players Rids and Christian were and what Mike Eagles was.

Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world

by J.P. on Apr 14, 2009 3:24 PM EDT up reply actions

I don’t see much similarity between the types of players Rids and Christian were and what Mike Eagles was

For my part, I think that’s correct. I have to say, I remembered Ridley as much more of a grindey type of forward, but upon looking at his actual, you know, stats and everything, I found he was much more offensively productive than Eagles.

See below, I have substituted my earlier troika for Kono/Miller/Pivo. Again without looking at the stats, so I could well be totally off the mark here. But what the heck.

by fat_daddyo on Apr 14, 2009 3:28 PM EDT up reply actions

I was just being a Douche :3

I'm so sick and tired of the refs explaining the calls like this is the NFL.

by Whiter Mage on Apr 14, 2009 3:29 PM EDT up reply actions

Yeah, but you should have seen what Eagles did with the Melville Millionaires…

OK, I retract.

I’ll say Callahan is the functional equivalent of Steve Konowalchuk/Kelly Miller/and….uh….Pivo. How’s that?

by fat_daddyo on Apr 14, 2009 3:23 PM EDT up reply actions

At the risk of thrashing this point to a bloody, oozing pulp, he reminds me of the Mike Ridley/Mike Eagles/Dave Christian type of grinder forwards that used to typify the Caps lineup.

fwiw, I think the most comparable well-known current NHLer is Chris Kunitz.

by David Getz on Apr 14, 2009 3:36 PM EDT up reply actions

If that’s the guy we’re really worried about, I’m feeling better by the second.

by fat_daddyo on Apr 14, 2009 3:43 PM EDT up reply actions

Are we scouting the Rangers more in depth than the Caps are? I wouldn’t be surprised :x

I'm so sick and tired of the refs explaining the calls like this is the NFL.

by Whiter Mage on Apr 14, 2009 3:07 PM EDT reply actions

We should really alert BB to DMG, maybe he’d hire him for quip scouting reports!

by DrinkingPartner on Apr 14, 2009 3:10 PM EDT reply actions

Quip scouting, an underrated and fascinating way to gain an edge on your opponent. ;)

by fat_daddyo on Apr 14, 2009 3:14 PM EDT up reply actions

This is the little bastard most likely to cause angst for us Caps fans, I think. He seems to have a knack for contributing timely goals.

by grapejoos on Apr 14, 2009 3:15 PM EDT reply actions

Yeah, the scouting report says “tenacious,” but I read “pain in the ass.”

Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world

by J.P. on Apr 14, 2009 3:18 PM EDT up reply actions

I’d say you are right…. according to the NYTimes he’s the leading scorer for the Rags since the deadline 8-8-16

Also, according the the Rags SBN Blog, Drury is a go for tomorrow.

by Sct112 on Apr 14, 2009 3:31 PM EDT up reply actions

No shocker with Drury. Its the playoffs.

by vt caps fan on Apr 14, 2009 4:06 PM EDT up reply actions

yeah this donkey scares me, I feel like he’s always scoring against us.

by vt caps fan on Apr 14, 2009 4:06 PM EDT up reply actions

Picture looks like an opera singer or some crap.

I'm so sick and tired of the refs explaining the calls like this is the NFL.

by Whiter Mage on Apr 14, 2009 3:17 PM EDT reply actions

Looks like a typical Anglo-Canadian boy. If he was from Wawa or Sudbury or Kitchener, Don Cherry would be all over him. Being as he’s from the US, not so much, though.

Tellin’ ya, he’s got the slightly haggard, mildly concussed look that grinder forwards seem to have.

by fat_daddyo on Apr 14, 2009 3:31 PM EDT up reply actions

This guy is their best forward. He’s pretty much Brooks Laich, only without the musical talent, ability in the corners… and of course, Callahan isn’t the ladies’ man Brooks is…

No slight to Brooks, but if you’re going into the playoffs and your top scoring threat is Brooks Laich, you’re going to probably make an early exit. This guy, like Brooks can be an important piece of a championship team, but he’s not going to be a leading goal scorer/playmaker.

Would love to have him on my team anytime though.

Let's go Caps!

by MikeL-Pivonka on Apr 15, 2009 9:39 AM EDT reply actions