Big news for hockey fans: the former Rangers captain is stepping away from ESPN’s broadcast team, and it’s causing quite a stir.
Ryan Callahan announced on his X account that he will be "taking a step away" from his analyst duties for the upcoming NHL season. After four solid years providing insight on ESPN’s hockey coverage, the beloved former Ranger decided to prioritize family time over the studio lights. He shared his thoughts on Tuesday, just hours before the Rangers were slated to kick off their season against the Penguins at Madison Square Garden on ESPN.
"It has been a great four years with the Worldwide Leader in Sports," Callahan wrote. "I’m going to miss working with all the great people there, but I wanted to spend more time with my young family. Excited to tune in tonight to see the start of what should be another great NHL season!"
But here's where it gets controversial…
The move seemed almost inevitable when Disney’s ESPN revealed a slew of contract extensions for its on‑air hockey talent on Monday—yet Callahan’s name was conspicuously absent. Was this a mutual decision, or did the network quietly decide not to renew his contract? The speculation sparked a flurry of reactions from fellow ESPN personalities.
- Play‑by‑play veteran Bob Wischusen posted, "I’m going to miss this guy!" (X: https://x.com/espnbob/status/1975722132563804420).
- Hockey reporter Greg Wyshynski added, "You rocked Cally. Thanks for all you did to make the thing good," (X: https://x.com/wyshynski/status/1975697651602686292).
For those unfamiliar with Callahan’s background, here’s a quick refresher: the 40‑year‑old hung up his skates on Dec. 30, 2020, after a 13‑year NHL career split between the New York Rangers (eight seasons) and the Tampa Bay Lightning. He also represented the United States in two Winter Olympics (2010 and 2014). His broadcasting résumé began in 2019 with NHL Network, followed by a stint on NBC’s NHL coverage, before joining ESPN in 2021 when the network revived its hockey programming.
And this is the part most people miss…
Callahan didn’t explicitly say his media career is over—just that he’ll be off the airwaves for now. Could this be a temporary hiatus, or might we see him return in a different capacity later on? Only time will tell.
What do you think? Should ESPN have fought harder to keep Callahan on board, or is his decision to focus on family the smarter move? Share your thoughts and let’s get the conversation rolling in the comments!
