Ryan Callahan appears to be on the trade block a week before the deadline.
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The Rangers may be the NHL’s most fascinating team with the trade deadline six days away.
While the Rangers have put themselves in the playoff mix, general manager Glen Sather is attempting to chart the organization’s future which may or may not include right wing Ryan Callahan and right defenseman Dan Girardi.
Both Callahan and Girardi are unrestricted free agents this summer, and the representatives for both have held contract talks with Sather.
It is believed that Callahan is looking for a seven-year contract worth $6 million a year, and Girardi is asking for a multi-year pact averaging $5.5 million per year.
The negotiations have not been seamless, especially Callahan’s. The captain has been linked to trade rumors involving Blues right wing Chris Stewart and, more recently, Lightning right wing Martin St. Louis.
TSN’s Bob McKenzie reported Tuesday St. Louis has told Lightning owner Jeff Vinik and general manager Steve Yzerman he wanted to be traded to the Rangers.
St. Louis, 38, is in the third year of a four-year, $22.5 million contract which includes a no movement clause.
“In our case we’re talking about Ryan and Dan,” Vigneault said. “Those guys have done a real good job of keeping those moments that they have with their environment away from the rink. When they come here, they come to play, they come to practice hard. They’ve done a real good job. They’re New York Rangers and I’m hoping they stay New York Rangers.”
Follow Rangers beat writer Denis Gorman on Twitter @DenisGorman.
