TSN Report: Callahan staying in Tampa Bay, 6 years, $34.8 million
Oilers acquire and sign former Blue Nikita Nikitin to two year, $9 million deal. Overpaid but they're in desperate need of a veteran blueline presence and had to do it to get it done.The Tampa Bay Lightning and pending unrestricted free agent Ryan Callahan have agreed to a six-year deal.
TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun reports that the deal will average $5.8 million a season and also carry a full no trade clause in the first four years of the deal, and then is a limited no trade clause in the final two years.
“He's proven to be a fierce competitor and outstanding leader who fits very well with our team," said Lightning general manager Steve Yzerman.
Callahan was sent to the Lightning from the New York Rangers at the trade deadline on March 5 for Martin St. Louis.
“I couldn't be happier to be part of the Tampa Bay Lightning organization for the next six years and I am excited for this new chapter of my career,” Callahan said. “Tampa Bay has been a great place to live and play from the day I got there. As soon as the season ended I knew it was a place I wanted to be.”
In 20 games with the Lightning, Callahan amassed six goals and five assists, but was kept off of the scoresheet in the playoffs where the Lightning were swept in the first round by the Montreal Canadiens.
Callahan, 29, just finished the final season of a three-year deal worth $12.85 million. The native of Rochester, New York was reportedly seeking a seven-year, $49 million deal from the Rangers prior to the trade.
The Edmonton Oilers have acquire defenceman Nikita Nikitin from the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for a fifth-round pick in the 2014 NHL Draft.
The 28-year-old signed a two-year, $9 million deal with the club, according to TSN Hockey Insider Bob McKenzie. He was set to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1.
The Blue Jackets re-acquired the pick it sent to Edmonton in exchange for defenceman Nick Schultz on March 5.
Nikitin registered two goals and 13 assists for 15 points in 66 games played with Columbus last season. He also recorded a plus- 9 rating and 20 penalty minutes.
Acquired from St. Louis in exchange for defenceman Kris Russell on November 11, 2011, Nikitin tallied 12-44-56 in 158 games as a Blue Jacket. He has registered 13-52-65 in 206 career NHL games since being selected by the Blues in the fifth round, 136th overall, at the 2004 Entry Draft.