Callahan Out 10 to 14 Days January 30, 2013, 4:32 PM ET [55 Comments] Jan Levine

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In what has to be viewed as the best case scenario, an MRI on Ryan Callahan's left shoulder showed a partial subluxation. In essence what that means is that is is a partial and temporary dislocation of the shoulder and needs time to heal.



With the original views, including my own that it was a full dislocation and he would miss 4-6 weeks, to only potentially be out 10-14 days has to be considered a win for the Rangers and Callahan. Personally, I think he will miss closer to three weeks as he will need to let the injury heal and strengthen the surrounding area, but even in that case, it's still better than expected.



If he does miss the proposed time of 10-14 days, Callahan will likely be out for six games (home vs Pitt, at TB, at NJD, home vs NYI, home vs TB and at Bos before returning Valentine's Day against the Isles), which in this shortened and truncated 48-game season, translates into missing 10 games in an 82-game year. With Chris Kreider still out with bone chips in his ankle and no timeframe for his return as he just skated today, I reiterate what I wrote yesterday as to possible line combinations.



"I expect Torts to break up the big trio. Move Hagelin back to the left side on the first line. Then shift Gaborik down to the second line and have him play alongside Taylor Pyatt, who can add the grit left lacking from Cally's absence, or Benn Ferriero and Derek Stepan.



Beyond that, it will be a hodge-podge, with Brian Boyle most probably centering either Ferriero or Pyatt as well as Mike Rupp with Jeff Halpern centering Aaron Asham and whoever is added via trade/call up or activated from being a healthy scratch on the fourth line."



The Rangers dodged a major bullet and it will take a team effort to make up for Callahan's absence, but knowing the way this dquad played, they should be up to the task.