Buffalo is believed willing to meet Callahan’s asking price of a seven-year deal
Time is more an ally of the captain than of general manager Glen Sather. As a pending free agent, Callahan won’t be able to speak to all of the other 29 teams until June 25, so though he would likely prefer to take care of his business now, there is no urgency whatsoever for him to operate in a restricted market.
Beyond that, though Buffalo is believed willing to meet Callahan’s asking price of a seven-year deal worth at least $42 million that would probably come with the club captaincy — think of it as the reverse Chris Drury — the 30th-overall Sabres are not involved in the current trade talks.
Why would they be, when there is no reason to surrender assets now when they can simply sign the winger free (alternate meaning) and clear when the market opens?
The Rangers, however, want this situation resolved as quickly as possible, and ideally before Friday’s 3 p.m. pre-Olympics roster freeze in order to guard against Callahan suffering an injury playing for Team USA in Sochi.
http://nypost.com/2014/02/02/ryan-callahan-suitors-may-be-waiting-for-free-agency/