Callahan shut down indefinitely following second surgery

by Erik Erlendsson | @Erik_Erlendsson | Like us on Facebook
February 22, 2017

TAMPA, Fla. – In an announcement that always felt like it was looming, Lightning alternate captain Ryan Callahan is out indefinitely following a second procedure on his right hip.

Callahan underwent the procedure on Tuesday at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York, performed by Dr. Bryan Kelly. The operation is a follow up to the surgery Callahan underwent in June to repair a torn labrum, which was also performed by Dr. Kelly.

Callahan has not played since Jan. 7 at Philadelphia and is now listed as out in definitely. He has appeared in just 18 games this season as he attempted to return from the injury on three occasions this season.

With Callahan out, the Lightning have the flexibility to gain signifgant salary cap relief a week ahead of the NHL trade deadline.

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Callahan carries a salary cap hit of $5.8 million per season for three more years. While Tampa Bay currently has an estimated $8.3 million in long term salary cap relief due to the injury suffered by Steven Stamkos in November. If the team needed to create more space, or if Stamkos – who has been on the ice while recovering from knee surgery to repair a partially torn meniscus – returns before the end of the season, they could place Callahan on LTIR ahead of the March 1 trade deadline.

The 31-year-old Callahan was acquired from the New York Rangers in a blockbuster deal that sent Marty St. Louis to Broadway at the trade deadline in 2014. In 188 games with the Lightning, Callahan has 42 goals and 97 points, including tying a career high with 54 points during the 2014-15 season.

But Callahan, who plays a hard game that subjects itself to injuries, has not been able to stay fully healthy since arriving in Tampa Bay. After appearing in 77 games his first full season with the Lightning in 2014-15, Callahan missed nine games last season while playing through the torn labrum before undergoing surgery on June, 21, 2016.

Callahan reached out via his Twitter feed on Wednesday, stating: “Thanks for all the well wishes sent my way. Has been a tough year but I’m 1 day closer to getting back on the ice with the boyzzz!!!’’

General manager Steve Yzerman said Callahan has not been ruled out from returning this season.

“It depends on how long we’re playing and how deep into the playoffs we can go,” Yzerman told the team web site.

After experiencing discomfort after each time Callahan tried to return to the lineup, he was shut down in early January and it was announced on Jan. 16 that he would miss at least four weeks. After not responding to the latest round of treatment, the next step was to do the second surgery.

“We tried a lot of different approaches to quieting it down and nothing seemed to work,” Yzerman said. “The doctors thought having the second surgical procedure done was a reasonable step to recovery.”
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