Tampa Bay Lightning F Ryan Callahan Could Return Over Canadian Road Trip
The Tampa Bay Lightning could be able to get alternate captain Ryan Callahan back into the lineup over the course of the Lightning’s current road trip through Canada.
The Tampa Bay Lightning have been struggling immensely over the course of the last few games. This becomes especially true when you think about the injury department.
Right now, the Lightning have very little in terms of leadership at the moment. Both Lightning captain Steven Stamkos and alternate captain Ryan Callahan are out with various injuries.
Stamkos will be sidelined until at least mid-March after undergoing successful surgery to repair a lateral tear in his right meniscus. At the same time, Ryan Callahan has been dealing with a lower-body injury, which was later revealed to be nagging pain from his surgically repaired hip.
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When you have essentially your entire leadership corps relegated to the sidelines, a rather large hole is left in the team. Unfortunately, this is not the kind of hole that can be filled by just any player. The good news is, the light of fortune may be shining down on the Tampa Bay Lightning soon.
According to Tampa Bay Lightning Beat Writer Bryan Burns, when he spoke with Lightning Head Coach Jon Cooper after practice today, Cooper did not have an actual “update” on Ryan Callahan’s status; however, he did say Callahan would join the team on their Western Canada road trip.
As usual, Cooper’s choice of words is very vague. Just because he is joining the team on the road trip doesn’t necessarily mean he’ll get worked back into the lineup. At the same time, if Callahan wasn’t nearing a return, he more than likely would not be accompanying the team so far from home.
There is no denying Ryan Callahan is an integral part of the Tampa Bay Lightning’s system. In addition to his inherently gritty play and net-front presence, Callahan provides a natural scoring ability and a veteran presence on the ice that is hard to come by.
Before being sidelined for the second time this season thanks to his hip injury, Callahan had played in 15 games with the Tampa Bay Lightning. In that amount of time, Callahan was able to bring home two goals and two assists for a total of four points along with a plus-2 rating.
This may not seem like a lot for this point in the season; however, when you consider the fact Callahan missed the entire first month of the season and has been sidelined once again since late November, he hasn’t exactly had a solid opportunity to find his groove yet this season.
While there has been no official word from the team, it is definitely encouraging that Ryan Callahan will be joining the team on their trek through the great, white north. The Lightning’s first stop in their Canadian journey will be Wednesday night at the Scotiabank Saddledome to take on the Calgary Flames.
Here’s hoping the Tampa Bay Lightning are able to find the spark they have been so very desperately searching for and find a way to extinguish the Flames and start their Canadian road trip off on the right foot.
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