The New York Rangers have officially completed the signings of all five of their restricted free agents, as Ryan Callahan and the team came to terms on a three-year deal worth $12.875 million. Unlike Brandon Dubinsky's contract, the Rangers didn't go to the last day to get the deal done, but they did wait until about the 24th hour.
The Rangers will pay Callahan $4 million in each of the first two years and $4.825 million the last year. The deal will count $4.275 million against the salary cap, and according to CapGeek, the Rangers have $685,000 in space available. A buyout period starts at midnight Wednesday, but as Andrew Gross of The Bergen Record notes, no players are expected to be bought out.
The 26-year-old Callahan had a career-high 23 goals and 25 assists in 60 games while suffering a broken right hand and broken ankle that cut his season short. He figures to be the leading candidate to be the Rangers' next captain as he exemplifies the two-way, forechecking and shot-blocking style of play that coach John Tortorella has taught his group. He's also always been a stand-up player on and off the ice.
With Callahan now signed, the Rangers have a solid nucleus in place for many years.
Jesse Spector of The New York Daily News even says: "The Rangers' window is open." The competition is stiff, though, and of course, only time will tell. (Check out Jesse's blog post here as he makes some very valid points.)