[text_output]The Rangers hurry up and wait philosophy can be draining at times, especially when there seem to be more question marks left on the roster than definitive answers.

The most we’ve seen the Rangers in the news recently has been as a potential third man in the ongoing Erik Karlsson-to-Tampa rumors. Jeff Gorton’s involvement in the negotiation process makes perfect sense, considering the Lightning need to move salary to make the trade/potential extension work, the Rangers have more cap space than they know what to do with and the pre-existing interest the Rangers have in the Lightning’s 2018-19 success.

Rick Carpiniello has reported multiple times this off-season – including on our most recent podcast – that Gorton has zero interest in taking on Bobby Ryan’s four year deal, since the team views it as an albatross on their long-term plans. The name that has more often than not been connected to New York: former captain Ryan Callahan.[/text_output][image type=”circle” float=”none” src=”2775″ alt=”” href=”” title=”” info_content=”” lightbox_caption=”” id=”” class=”aligncenter” style=””][text_output]Callahan makes a ton of sense for the Rangers in a number of ways, some of which might be unexpected given his recent turn in on-ice reputation.

For starters, the easiest benefit to having Callahan back in the fold is everything he’d do for this young locker room off the ice. I’m not ever going to push for Cally to regain the C, since his second tenure would have such a clear beginning and end in New York. There isn’t a circumstance I could see the winger staying longer than the two years remaining on his current contract, so why give the captaincy to someone who has such a temporary timetable in New York?

Nonetheless, his presence would be felt in the locker room. He’s been through the ringer in New York. He’s been on extremely talented Lightning teams that have gone deep into the playoffs. He’s accomplished nearly everything possible on the ice, and that wisdom is invaluable for young teams.

Secondly, with Callahan would come additional assets Jeff Gorton would be able to use during this rebuild.

I mentioned this package on the podcast this week, and it might be a little aggressive in nature, though contains the pieces the Rangers could realistically ask for. First and most obvious, the Rangers should require the Lightning to drop the condition on next year’s first round pick. Guarantee the Rangers a second first rounder in 2019 and we can start the conversation.

I’m sure Gorton would also want a young, B-level prospect as well in any deal. They’re not going to snag someone high on the Lightning radar like Taylor Raddysh or Cal Foote, but Alexander Volkov? Boris Katchouk? Scoring wingers who may be squeezed out of chance with the Lightning given their insane depth up and down their lines? Absolutely. I also don’t think it’s crazy to ask for a future second round pick (say, 2021?) in a deal as well.

Callahan the locker room presence and Callahan the asset who nets you more pieces to the future puzzle should be worth it alone, but I’m willing to go even further with this:

Ryan Callahan actually still serves a purpose on the ice.[/text_output][image type=”none” float=”none” src=”2777″ alt=”” href=”” title=”” info_content=”” lightbox_caption=”” id=”” class=”aligncenter” style=””][text_output]Before we get too far into the weeds, let me be as blunt as possible:

This is not a knock on Jesper Fast whatsoever. Fast is a dynamic defensive winger who finally discovered his scoring touch last season. He’s high energy and you never feel like he’s over-matched when he’s facing a tough match-up. Would I ever include him in my top six? No, but that’s also not the role he has mastered. He’s a bottom six winger with scoring upside who can lock down opponents. That has tremendous value.

At the same time, all that fluff I’ve given Fast, there’s no denying that he isn’t that much different from what Ryan Callahan offers a line-up as well.

Where Fast gives you tremendous defensive value right off the top, Callahan creates scoring opportunities for his teammates, and generally raises the performance of those surrounding him on the ice. And while Callahan isn’t the shutdown defender Fast is, he provides you positives in the defensive zone.

And while Fast deserves praise for converting on the chances he had last season, Ryan Callahan’s scoring numbers should’ve been much higher than they were last year.[/text_output][image type=”none” float=”none” src=”2778″ alt=”” href=”” title=”” info_content=”” lightbox_caption=”” id=”” class=”aligncenter” style=””][text_output]Callahan’s expected goal total was more than five goals over what he was able to put in the back of the net. Like we’ve seen with Rick Nash in the past, at some point, it stops being “unable to finish” and starts becoming “unlucky”. Callahan will never be a 20-goal scorer again, but that’s not what the Rangers are asking him to do, and that’s not what a team should be expecting of him.

What Callahan still does for you is, in part, create more offensive chances and continue his strong play in the defensive zone. On a team like the Rangers, locked into their rebuild where they could potentially roll four lines with near equal playing time versus a traditional stacked line-up, having a guy like Callahan who (when healthy) can provide you solid two-way play to surround your younger centers (Andersson, Chytil) with.

Callahan’s reputation on the ice has taken a hit because he’s simply not worth the $5.8M AAV. I’m not here to say Callahan is worth his contract, or that he’s ever going to return to be the type of player that originally earned that contract.

But Ryan Callahan is a useful hockey player still. He’s a guy anyone would love to have in their bottom six at a reasonable salary (like Jesper Fast). He’s going to provide offensive upside and he’s going to be solid defensively.

Acquiring Ryan Callahan isn’t a make or break point in the Rangers off-season, but it makes a lot more sense than Jeff Gorton and company sitting out on the Karlsson rumors.

Let’s make this happen, Jeff.[/text_output]