- Darren Dreger: Western Conference teams are suggesting the Rangers are gathering info Blues Chris Stewart. Ryan Callahan for Stewart would be a sweet deal for the Blues. Steve Zipay: Thinks the Rangers would ask for more. Darren Dreger: Agrees, but notes that teams won’t be willing to pay much more for a rental player.
- Larry Brooks of the NY Post: Sources saying the Rangers have set the Feb. 7th Olympic roster freeze as their deadline instead of the Mar. 5th trade deadline for Ryan Callahan. They want to have things resolved by the start of the Olympics. Brooks then doesn’t think they should play Callahan next Tuesday or Thursday. Callahan’t agent has permission to speak with multiple teams.
“That’s news to me,” Callahan maintained after recording an assist, two hits and a blocked shot in 18:44 of ice during his 444th career game as a Blueblood. “My heart is here and I want to be here.
“That’s all I worry about.”
The Rangers would be fine with a five-year deal at $30 million, but Callahan is holding firm on seven-years and $42 million. The Rangers primary interest is still to re-sign him.
- Pierre LeBrun of ESPN: Rangers GM Glen Sather started calling teams last week to gauge interest in Callahan. Two Western Conference executives said they still think the Rangers priority is to re-sign him, but are setting up a Plan B. Sather may not be against trading him within the Eastern Conference for the right deal. A Blues source wouldn’t say if they had interest in Callahan.
- John Shannon: The Rangers have given permission for Ryan Callahan’s agent, Steve Bartlett, to speak with multiple teams.
- Darren Dreger: At least one team has already spoken with Callahan’s agent.
- Chris Botta: The Rangers are nuts if they decide to trade Callahan instead of keeping him for another five years.
- Patrick Kearns: The Rangers are doing a good job of bracing fans for a potential Callahan trade by leaking unreasonable requests and trying to make Callahan look like the bad guy.