Ottawa Senators clear crowded crease in trade for injured Ryan Callahan

By Mike Vlasveld

The Ottawa Senators have acquired forward Ryan Callahan from the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for goaltender Mike Condon. 

By trading Condon, the team says it's set the stage for veteran goalie Craig Anderson and Anders Nilsson, who agreed to a two-year extension in May, to fill the net in Ottawa, while Filip Gustavsson, Marcus Hogberg and Joey Daccord log minutes in Belleville.

As part of the transaction, the Senators will also receive Tampa Bay's fifth-round draft pick in the 2020 NHL Draft while the Lightning will receive Ottawa's sixth-round selection.

Callahan, 34, has one season remaining on his contract and was placed on long-term injured reserve after suffering a career-ending back injury and a degenerative back disease diagnosis this past season. 

“We believe we have the right mix of goaltenders, both for the upcoming season and the future,” said Ottawa General Manager Pierre Dorion. “We are pleased with how our young goaltenders have been developing in Belleville, so this trade allows us to focus on continuing their growth at a proper pace while keeping two established goaltenders here in Ottawa. Our cap flexibility allowed us to proceed with this trade, which will also benefit us as we continue making adjustments to create a hardworking, exciting team.”

The Ottawa Senators will open the 2019-20 pre-season schedule against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Mile One Arena in St. John's on September 17. The Senators will also face its provincial rival in its regular-season opener in Toronto on Wednesday, Oct. 2., marking D.J. Smith's first regular-season game as a head coach, against his former team. 

Ottawa will play its home opener Saturday, October 5 against the New York Rangers.

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