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New York Rangers: The post lockout March madness bracket region 2

By Nicholas Zararis

TAMPA, FL - NOVEMBER 25: Taylor Pyatt #14 of the New York Rangers skates against the Tampa Bay Lightning at the Tampa Bay Times Forum on November 25, 2013 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Scott Audette/NHLI via Getty Images)
TAMPA, FL - NOVEMBER 25: Taylor Pyatt #14 of the New York Rangers skates against the Tampa Bay Lightning at the Tampa Bay Times Forum on November 25, 2013 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Scott Audette/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NY – DECEMBER 02: Ryan Callahan #24 of the New York Rangers looks on from the bench against the Winnipeg Jets at Madison Square Garden on December 2, 2013 in New York City. The Winnipeg Jets won 5-2. (Photo by Scott Levy/NHLI via Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – DECEMBER 02: Ryan Callahan #24 of the New York Rangers looks on from the bench against the Winnipeg Jets at Madison Square Garden on December 2, 2013 in New York City. The Winnipeg Jets won 5-2. (Photo by Scott Levy/NHLI via Getty Images) /

Number one seed Ryan Callahan vs number 16 Vinni Lettieri

Starting off with the heart and soul of John Tortorella’s black and blue shirts, former captain and current member of the Tampa Bay Lightning Ryan Callahan defined the Ranger teams earlier this decade. A small player at 5’10, Callahan was unwilling to let his size hold him back and played with a relentless mentality that kept the other team off balance.

In addition to his tone-setting physical play, Callahan was also the leader of the team as captain. His single best season as a pro came during the 2011-2012 season when he recorded 54 points in 79 games on a team that came within one game of making the Stanley Cup Final. It’s also worth a note that he has the primary assist on Brad Richards game-tying goal with 6.6 seconds remaining against the Washington Capitals during the postseason that year.

To say this is an uphill battle for Vinni Lettieri doesn’t do the Minnesota native any justice. As a grinder in a skill-based league, the college free agent is in the midst of a fight for his NHL career. Thus far in, he’s failed to register any impact for the Rangers while being an above average player at the AHL level.

There’s no shame in being a career AHL player, but Lettieri’s strong preseason this past September had many encouraged that he could possibly break through. Instead, he’s yo-yo’d back and forth between New York and Hartford and isn’t likely to factor into the team’s long-term plan.

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