Multiple sources have reported that the Tampa Bay Lightning and New York Rangers have agreed on a trade that will send Lightning captain Martin St. Louis to New York in exchange for Rangers captain Ryan Callahan along with conditional NHL draft picks.
NHL trade deadline: Penguins, Flyers in on Canucks center Ryan Kesler?
St. Louis reportedly requested a trade last month that would ship him out of Tampa Bay, and according to reports the Rangers were the one team that he really wanted to go to, and with the Rangers struggling to come to terms with restricted free agent-to-be in their captain Callahan, trade talks between the two parties started last week.
St. Louis was reportedly upset at the Lightning and team Canada general manager Steve Yzerman after he left him off of Team Canada for the Sochi Olympic Games. St. Louis eventually made the squad, which ended up winning its second consecutive gold medal, as a replacement of injured teammate Steven Stamkos, who consequently is set to return to the Lightning lineup Wednesday against the Buffalo Sabres while St. Louis comes to New York.
Will Devils trade Martin Brodeur?
The Rangers host the Maple Leafs tonight at Madison Square Garden and will be without their captain.
Can confirm #NYR trade of Callahan to St. Louis, now sorting out the conditional picks going both ways perhaps
— Pat Leonard (@PLeonardNYDN) March 5, 2014
The Rangers continued to talk with Callahan and his agent Steve Bartlett on Tuesday night, and while the sides had come to terms on a six-year pact, they remained $500,000 apart on opposite sides of $6 million for the captain's salary. General manager Glen Sather has opted to deal Callahan rather than run the risk of not being able to sign him and losing him for nothing to free agency in July.
Callahan, 29 has 25 points in 45 games for the Rangers this season off of 11 goals and 14 assists while St. Louis, 38, has 61 points in 62 games for the Lightning off of 29 goals and 32 assists.
The Lightning and Rangers made a big splash by swapping captains just hours ahead of the 3 p.m. NHL trade deadline.
Follow us on Twitter: @SportsWN, @MikeSmollins
© 2023 Sportsworldnews.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
