Ryan Callahan Injury: Updates on Lightning Star's Lower Body and Return

Latest Update from Thursday, Oct. 30

Bryan Burns of TampaBayLightning.com has an update on Ryan Callahan's status:

Coach Jon Cooper later spoke about Callahan's timeline for a return, via Joe Smith of the Tampa Bay Times:

Original Article from Tuesday, Oct. 21

Joe Smith of the Tampa Bay Times broke the news on Twitter:

Callahan, who spent most of his first eight years in the league with the New York Rangers, had scored three goals and two assists in five games of work prior to his injury.

After a trade sent Callahan to Tampa Bay, he quickly inked a six-year extension with the team last June and was poised to play a major role in the lineup moving forward. He spoke recently about his new surroundings.

"It starts to feel like home," he said, per Smith. "It takes a little bit of time, obviously, I'm really happy to spend the next years now and eventually call this my home."

The 29-year-old star is known for his shaky injury history and has never played in a full 82-game season. In his absence, the team will look to Nikita Kucherov, among others, for help next to Ondrej Palat and Steve Stamkos in the lineup.

Prior Updates

Updates from Saturday, Oct. 25

Joe Smith of the Tampa Bay Times has an update on Callahan:

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There was a surprise late arrival for the Lightning's morning skate Friday, with RW Ryan Callahan jumping on the ice near the end.

'Cally!' one player yelled.

It was the first time Callahan, 29, skated since suffering a lower-body injury in the second period of Monday's game against the Oilers. He was cautious in his strides and did some shooting. Coach Jon Cooper said the veteran is week to week. But for Callahan, it was an encouraging first step.

'It means it's progressing,' Callahan said of the injury. 'It's healing like it should." He said it happened on a "real innocent play" and he tried staying in the game for another shift but realized "it wasn't going to happen.'

 

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Latest Update from Tuesday, Oct. 28

Erik Erlendsson of The Tampa Tribune confirms Ryan Callahan is performing drills this morning as he continues to recover from his lower-body injury:

Coach Jon Cooper later updated Callahan's status, via Eriendsson: