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MITCHELL CALLAHAN
Mitchell Callahan
Position: Right Wing
Shoots: Right
Vitals: 5'11'' / 175 lbs.
Birthdate: August 17, 1991
Hometown: Whittier, California
Acquired: Detroit's sixth choice (180th overall) in the 2009 draft
CSS Ranking: Not Ranked
Contract: None (must sign by June 1, 2011)
RWC Says: Agitating Forward

STORIES

AWARDS
None Listed

HISTORY
2008-09:
  • Invited to WHL Kelowna's camp on a tryout basis.
  • Surprised the Rockets and their cracked opening-night roster.
  • Used mostly in a third- and fourth-line role on a deep team (70-14-13-27, plus-11).
  • Piled up 188 penalty minutes, third in the WHL.
  • Fought 20 times, according to hockeyfights.com, tied for second in the WHL.
  • Played energy role in helping Kelowna win WHL title (22-1-3-4-43).
  • Helped Kelowna to runner-up finish at Memorial Cup (4-0-1-1-2).
  • Not ranked by Central Scouting but picked in the sixth round (180th overall) by Detroit.

SCOUT COMMENTS
"He's a high-energy, high-impact player. He finishes all of his checks, he's fearless and he'll take on anybody. You hope he's going to be one of those guys who gets in on the forecheck and who causes havoc on defensemen." — Red Wings assistant general manager Jim Nill (June 2009) ... "Daniel Carcillo in Philly is the kind of guy this guy is. He's after you all the time, under everybody's skin, he's yappin' at you and he's doing all the things that bother everybody. He's an agitator." — Kelowna Rockets general manager Bruce Hamilton (June 2009).

STRENGTHS
Plays a robust, tenacious physical game ... Yaps at everyone, fights anyone, hits everything ... Generates energy for his team every shift ... Hard hitter who scares defensemen with his hustle on the forecheck ... Has shown flashes of having the hands to do more offensive damage ... Stands up for his teammates in a heartbeat and is a "pound-for-pound" good fighter ... Fan favorite and a treat to watch ... Learned quickly to be responsible in his own end with Kelowna.

WEAKNESSES
The big question is if Callahan has the hands to be more than a minor-leaguer ... Average skater, and needs particular improvement on his first couple of steps to get to the next level ... A rough project, coming from an area of North America that doesn't produce many hockey players ... Can he survive at the next level with his style of play and below-average size?

PROJECTION
The Red Wings rarely draft players of Callahan's ilk, but they liked his potential, particularly in the sixth round. He has NHL upside as a third- or fourth-line agitating right-winger, but let's not get ahead of ourselves. He'll return to the WHL in 2009-10, where he is expected to get scoring-line ice time and will look to improve his offensive game with Kelowna.

STATISTICS
  REGULAR SEASON PLAYOFFS
SEASON TEAM LEAGUE GP G A PTS PIM GP G A PTS PIM
2008-09 Kelowna WHL 70 14 13 27 188 22 1 3 4 43
    Memorial Cup 4 0 1 1 2 -- -- -- -- --

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The next wave

RWC's top 10 prospects (2009-10 preliminary)
01 F Tomas Tatar » Grand Rapids (AHL)
02 D Jakub Kindl » Grand Rapids (AHL)
03 D Brendan Smith » Wisconsin (NCAA)
04 G Thomas McCollum » Grand Rapids (AHL)
05 F Gustav Nyquist » Maine (NCAA)
06 F Landon Ferraro » Red Deer (WHL)
07 F Jan Mursak » Grand Rapids (AHL)
08 F Cory Emmerton » Grand Rapids (AHL)
09 F Joakim Andersson » Frolunda (SEL)
10 F Mattias Ritola » Grand Rapids (AHL)
» COMPLETE RANKING »