Hockey This Week

Hockey This Week

September 12, 2011 was a banner day in the rich tradition of the New York Rangers. Ryan Callahan was named 26th team captain in the organization’s history, supplanting Chris Drury, who was bought out in the offseason. Drury’s heart and soul were still deeply entrenched in hockey. However, his 35-year-old body couldn’t handle the rigors of an 82-game schedule any more and he retired. Left in the wake was Ryan Callahan to receive the torch to lead a team: his team. To this point, not only has Callahan lead his team marvelously but also, in his first season as captain, has become one of best, young leaders in the game.

The 26-year-old Rochester, NY native embodies the identity of the Rangers: relentless work ethic, sacrifice, and genuine heart for the game. His teammates, both young and old, have taken to Callahan’s lead-by-example play on the ice to become a team that firmly believes in their captain. But, what’s more impressive is how quickly his teammates have bought into his leadership.

Photo: Matt Kartozian-US PRESSWIRE

Brad Richards, a former Cup and Conn Smyth-winning newcomer to the Rangers this season and given an “A” on his sweater for the leadership qualities he owns, has no problem looking up to his younger captain. In a game based on mutual respect for your opponent while you fight for every inch of the ice, that is a humbling display of admiration.

Credit for Callahan’s quick ascension to an effective captain must go to coach John Tortorella, who must feel there’s no one better relay his message better to the team than Callahan. If you saw the HBO 24/7 series leading up to the Winter Classic, there was a scene where a dialogue occurred between Callahan and Tortorella, breaking down a play during intermission in order to make adjustments. Callahan made a suggestion to his coach to which he obliged to review video. It’s a testament to how much the coach respects his captain and the level of hockey sense Callahan possesses.

In this day and age, fans are obsessed with crunching the numbers, over-analyzing of statistics if you will. Here’s an impressive statistic (courtesy of ESPN’s John Buccigross and the Elias Sports Bureau): Over the past 365 days the Rangers are 23–0–3 in 26 games Ryan Callahan has scored. (7–0 to end last season. 16–0–3 this season). Simply put, when their captain scores, the Rangers don’t lose.

Perhaps it’s the reason why the Blueshirts looked very good during the past weekend of back-to-back games against tough Eastern Conference opponents. Captain Callahan notched his second career hat trick against the Philadelphia Flyers Saturday afternoon en route to a 5-2 victory. The very next day, against the Washington Capitals, Callahan tallied a first period goal – his fifth in four games – in what turned out to be a 3-2 victory for the club’s sixth in their last eight games.

In this breakout season for the New York Rangers, which may have grander ending, the reason for success starts within the locker room. By following the adage of “playing your game,” Ryan Callahan is the reason for a return to hard-nosed hockey on Broadway. Of course, he has a long road ahead to reach the likes of his counterparts in Sidney Crosby, or Jonathan Toews – elite players that have lead their respective teams to championships at a young age.

Still, the New York Rangers have found their guy to be captain. Their guy to lead them to the promise land. Their guy that, arguably, has become in a short time the best captain to play for the Rangers since Mark Messier.

James Wrabel, Jr.
Hockey This Week

Follow James on Twitter @thewrage