The Tampa Bay Lightning have re-signed forward Ryan Callahan to a six-year contract extension worth $34.8 million, an annual average value of $5.8 million.
The 29-year-old winger’s new deal has him locked up through the 2020 season and includes a full no-trade clause for the first four years.
Callahan was first acquired by Tampa in a deal that sent former captain Martin St. Louis to the New York Rangers. Additionally, with this re-signing, the Rangers will receive a second-round pick in 2015 while the Lightning are given a seventh-round pick in that same draft.
This is exactly the type of long-term deal Callahan was originally looking for when negotiating with his former team in New York. While it may have been a risk that wasn’t worth taking for general manager Glen Sather, Tampa Bay GM Steve Yzerman felt more than comfortable offering such terms.
“He’s proven to be a fierce competitor and outstanding leader who fits very well with our team,” said Yzerman.
As of 12:01 a.m. ET Wednesday morning, other teams were officially allowed to reach out to the pending unrestricted free agent and multiple organizations reportedly did with much interest. However, Callahan believes he made the right choice by staying put.
“I couldn’t be happier to be part of the Tampa Bay Lightning organization for the next six years, and I am excited for this new chapter of my career,” said Callahan in a release from the team. “Tampa Bay has been a great place to live and play from the day I got there. As soon as the season ended, I knew it was a place I wanted to be.”
Last season, the Rochester, N.Y., native tallied 17 goals and 19 assists for 36 points in 65 games played for both the Rangers and Lightning. Over the course of his eight-year NHL career, Callahan has mustered 138 goals and 265 total points in 470 games.
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