from Ed Willes of the Vancouver Province,

With a week to go before the July 1 free-agent frenzy, Callahan signed a six-year deal worth $5.8 million per with the Tampa Bay Lightning, the team for which he’d played just 20 regular season and four playoff games.

On Saturday, he was asked about his decision....

“There’s a lot of things that weigh into every decision,” Callahan said before the Lightning met the Canucks in a marquee Saturday night matchup.

“But that was my main goal when the season ended. That’s why I didn’t test free agency.

“I wanted to sign back here so badly. I could see the direction this team was going and what they’re trying to build here. It’s not hard to see the talent in the room....

”The team that survived the Oren Koules-Len Barrie fiasco and missed the playoffs five out of six years before last season is now on the verge of greatness, and judging by the visuals from Saturday night, the next step is coming sooner rather than later.

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