Ryan Callahan Named 26th Rangers Captain
NEW YORK (AP) - Ryan Callahan is the new captain of the New York Rangers.
The 26-year-old forward succeeds Chris Drury, who retired last month. Callahan is coming off his most productive season, with career highs in goals (23) and assists (25) despite missing 22 games because of injury.
Rangers general manager Glen Sather said in a statement Monday that Callahan "leads by example with courage and a tireless work ethic on and off the ice."
Callahan has been an alternate captain the last two seasons. Brad Richards and Marc Staal will serve as alternate captains this season.
Callahan is entering his fifth season in the NHL. He helped lead the United States to a silver medal at the Vancouver Olympics.
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
FROM THE RANGERS:
New York – New York Rangers President and General Manager Glen Sather announced today that forward Ryan Callahan has been named the 26th captain in franchise history. Brad Richards will join Marc Staal as the club's two alternate captains.
"Ryan Callahan embodies all the leadership qualities we seek from our Captain," Sather said. "He leads by example with courage and a tireless work ethic on and off the ice, which is why he is so deserving of this honor."
Callahan, 26, has served as a Rangers Alternate Captain for the last two seasons after being named to the post on October 2, 2009. He captured a silver medal with Team USA at the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver, Canada, and is a two-time Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award winner (2008-09 and 2009-10). Last season, Callahan captured the Players' Player Award, as voted by his teammates, and the John Halligan Good Guy Award, selected by the NY chapter of the PHWA in recognition of cooperation with the media.
Entering his fifth season in the NHL, Callahan was originally selected as the Rangers' fourth round choice, 127th overall, in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft. He has registered 76 goals and 68 assists for 144 points, along with 179 penalty minutes in 284 career regular season games. Callahan has reached the 40-point plateau and surpassed the 20-goal mark in two of the last three seasons, and has recorded 200-plus hits in each of the last three seasons. The Rochester, New York native enjoyed his most productive season in 2010-11, establishing career-highs in goals (23), assists (25) and points (48) despite missing 22 games due to injury. He tallied his first career hat trick with four goals and a career-high five points on March 6 vs. Philadelphia, and notched his first career penalty shot goal on October 30 at Toronto. On October 23, Callahan registered his 100th career point with an assist on the game-winning goal at Boston. Callahan made his NHL debut on December 1, 2006 at Buffalo, and tallied his first career NHL point with a two-goal performance on March 17, 2007 vs. Boston.
NEW YORK RANGERS TEAM CAPTAINS
Bill Cook (1926-27 – 1936-37)
Art Coulter (1937-38 - 1941-42)
Ott Heller (1942-43 – 1944-45)
Neil Colville (1945-46 – December 21, 1948)
Buddy O'Connor (1949-50)
Frank Eddolls (1950-51 – December 6, 1951)
Allan Stanely (December 20, 1951 – November 3, 1953)
Don Raleigh (November 4, 1953 – 1954-55)
Harry Howell (1955-56 – 1956-57)
George Sullivan (1957-58 – 1960-61)
Andy Bathgate (1961-62 – February 22, 1964)
Camille Henry (February 23, 1964 – February 4, 1965)
Bob Nevin (February 5, 1965 – 1970-71)
Vic Hadfield (1971-72 – 1973-74)
Brad Park (1974-75 – November 7, 1975)
Phil Esposito (November 12, 1975 – October 10, 1978)
Dave Maloney (October 11, 1978 – December 6, 1980)
Walt Tkaczuk (December 7, 1980 – February 3, 1981)
Barry Beck (February 4, 1981 – May 9, 1986)
Ron Greschner (October 9, 1986 – December 3, 1987)
Kelly Kisio (December 24, 1987 – May 30, 1991)
Mark Messier (October 7, 1991 – May 25, 1997)
Brian Leetch (October 3, 1997 – July 13, 2000)
Mark Messier (July 13, 2000 – April 3, 2004)
Jaromir Jagr (October 5, 2006 – June 30, 2008)
Chris Drury (September 30, 2008 – June 29, 2011)
Ryan Callahan (September 12, 2011 – Present)
