Ryan Callahan is forced to retire after sustaining too many injuries and surgeries

Veteran forward Ryan Callahan has just announced that he is retiring from the National Hockey League after a 13-year career. 

He shared a powerful message on social media, explaining that while he did not take part in the last season due to his back injury, he had made the decision to call it a career, following what he says, were “multiples injuries and surgeries, which unfortunately there were a lot of them.”

He thanks the New York Rangers, who selected him in the fourth round of the 2004 NHL Draft, and where he played his way up to captain status in 2011.

He also thanks the Tampa Bay Lightning, where he was traded for Martin St. Louis in 2014, earning the permanent alternate captain patch during his tenure there.

He finally thanks his beloved wife and family for their support. 

Callahan played his last game on April 16, 2019, when Tampa Bay was swept by Columbus in a stunning first-round upset. He feels privileged to have played the game, in the NHL, for so many years. 

He displays an impressive stat sheet as he retired : he has blocked 626 shots and dished out 2,147 hits in his career to go with his 186 goals and 200 assists.

Happy retirement Callahan!