Tampa Bay Lightning Injury Update: Ryan Callahan Out Indefinitely After Follow-Up Surgery
Tampa Bay Lightning alternate captain Ryan Callahan has experienced a serious setback in his recovery and is now considered to be out indefinitely.
The Tampa Bay Lightning has been dealt a losing hand this season when it comes to injuries and illnesses. There have been times over the course of the season where the Lightning has lost more players than they’ve gotten back on any given night.
There have been two injuries in particular which have hit the Lightning extremely hard this season. The first of which has been the lateral meniscus tear in the right knee of Lightning captain Steven Stamkos, which has him sidelined until at least March.
Unfortunately, the other major injury storyline making waves this season doesn’t seem to have a happy ending anywhere in sight. This would be the injury involving Tampa Bay Lightning alternate captain Ryan Callahan.
Tampa Bay Lightning
As most Lightning fans know by now, Ryan Callahan started off the 2016-17 season on the injured list after undergoing surgery to repair a labral tear in his right hip. Cally first started experiencing problems with his hip around the halfway point of the 2015-16 season but continued to play through the pain.
Callahan made his return to this ice on October 30th as the Lightning took on Callahan’s former team, the New York Rangers. Unfortunately for the Lightning and their fans, Cally’s return would be short-lived. Just 17 games later, Cally would find himself back on the injured list once again.
Months have gone by, and there has been no update on the current state of Ryan Callahan’s recovery or any indication when or if he’ll be able to return to the ice this season, or at all. This lead many people here in the Bolts Nation to start asking the question, Did Ryan Callahan back himself into a corner?
Unfortunately, it seems as if things have gone awry at some point in Callahan’s recovery, and the chances of him returning to the ice this season now seem as if they have transitioned from possible to slim to none.
Tampa Bay Lightning Vice President and General Manager Steve Yzerman announced earlier this afternoon Ryan Callahan was forced to undergo a follow-up procedure on his injured right hip and is now considered to be out indefinitely.
While there is a good chance Lightning fans will not see Callahan on the ice at all for the remainder of the regular season, all hope is not lost…at least not yet.
According to Tampa Bay Lightning Beat Writer Bryan Burns, who had an opportunity to speak with Steve Yzerman, Yzerman says the chance of Callahan returning this season “depends on if and how deep the team can go in the playoffs.”
Judging by the way the team has been playing as of late, it is a real possibility the Lightning could make a solid run at the postseason. Only time will tell if their journey will lead them to the postseason, but fans are definitely in for a wild ride along the way. Hopefully, this ride will include a postseason return for Callahan.
More From Bolts By The Bay: Did Ryan Callahan Back Himself Into A Corner?
At the same time, there is no realm in which we would want Ryan Callahan to return before he is 100 percent ready to go. While we are definitely not medical professionals here at Bolts By The Bay, we can’t help but feel as if his return to the ice was slightly rushed, and this may have had an impact on his current state.
If Callahan needs the remainder of the season, including the playoffs, to get himself back into game shape, then he needs to take it. Then, he can use the off-season to shake off the rust and get back into game shape.
While not all injuries seem serious, they are definitely nothing to play around with. Rushing back from injury can have serious long-term repercussions leading not only to the loss of a season but the loss of a career. This is not something Lightning fans want for Ryan Callahan.
Ryan Callahan currently has another three seasons in his contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning before he is set to become an Unrestricted Free Agent at the conclusion of the 2019-20 season. You can bet the Lightning are going to want their alternate captain on the ice for as much of that time as possible, and potentially more moving forward.
Next: Steven Stamkos Returns To Ice For Light Skating
We here at Bolts By The Bay would like to wish Ryan Callahan a speedy and thorough recovery from his latest surgical procedure. It is our sincere hope he is able to return to the Lightning lineup with a clean bill of health as expediently as possible. Until then, our thoughts will continue to be with Cally and his family.