| STORIES |
- Monday, June 29, 2009: Yappin’, scrappin’ Callahan breaks the mold
- Wednesday, September 15, 2010: Smith looks to shake ‘bad apple’ rap
- Friday, September 17, 2010: ‘Sweetheart’ off the ice, ‘agitator’ on it
- Wednesday, December 22, 2010: Calla-fornia dream come true
- Wednesday, January 12, 2011: Wings in no rush with Nestrasil
- Wednesday, March 23, 2011: Memorial Cup chase begins
- Wednesday, January 30, 2013: Shades of Edler in Red Wings’ Backman
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| 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.
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2009-10:
- Returned to Kelowna for a second WHL season and took big step forward offensively (72-20-27-47).
- Placed ninth in penalty minutes in the WHL with 165.
- Finished tied for fourth in WHL fighting majors with 19 (three-way tie for first at 20).
- Put up good numbers in WHL playoffs (12-2-4-6).
- Signed three-year entry-level deal with Red Wings at season’s end.
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2010-11:
- Returned to Kelowna for a third WHL season and posted career-best numbers (62-23-31-54, plus-4).
- Roughly halved his fighting majors (9) and penalty minutes (87) from previous season.
- Averaged a point-per-game for most of season but slowed in final two months (17-4-4-8).
- Won a bronze medal with the United States at the WJC (6-1-0-1, minus-1, 13 shots).
- Produced well in two playoff rounds (10-5-4-9).
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2011-12:
- Cracked Grand Rapids lineup as AHL rookie and played depth role (48-6-3-9, minus-3, 58 shots).
- Led Grand Rapids with 14 fights and tied for 16th in AHL, according to HockeyFights.com.
- Healthy scratch early in season before becoming regular; missed final 13 games with shoulder injury.
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| SCOUT COMMENTS |
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“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) … “He’s something we don’t have. We’re not a tough, robust team, and he brings in that agitator. He’s in your face, he’s going to fight anybody, one of those fan favorite type of players.” — Nill (July 2010, DetroitRedWings.com).
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| STRENGTHS |
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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 he has the hands to chip in with timely goals … Stands up for his teammates in a heartbeat and is a “pound-for-pound” good fighter … Fan favorite and a treat to watch … Has steadily improved his two-way play, which will help him find an NHL role.
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| WEAKNESSES |
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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 … Lacks the size of your typical NHL grinder, but guys like Matt Cooke have shown it can be done.
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| PROJECTION |
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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 and he did a good job getting settled as an AHL rookie in 2011-12. He’ll be expected to make a bigger physical impact with Grand Rapids in 2012-13 and establish himself as a quality third-liner.
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Player statistics powered by www.eliteprospects.com
| Season |
Team |
League |
GP |
G |
A |
TP |
PIM |
|
Playoffs |
GP |
G |
A |
TP |
PIM |
| 2008-2009 |
Kelowna Rockets |
WHL |
70 |
14 |
13 |
27 |
188 |
| |
Playoffs |
22 |
1 |
3 |
4 |
43 |
| |
Kelowna Rockets |
M-Cup |
4 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 2009-2010 |
Kelowna Rockets |
WHL |
72 |
20 |
27 |
47 |
165 |
| |
Playoffs |
12 |
2 |
4 |
6 |
10 |
| 2010-2011 |
Kelowna Rockets |
WHL |
62 |
23 |
31 |
54 |
87 |
| |
Playoffs |
10 |
5 |
4 |
9 |
17 |
| |
USA U20 |
WJC-20 |
6 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 2011-2012 |
Grand Rapids Griffins |
AHL |
48 |
6 |
3 |
9 |
103 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 2012-2013 |
Grand Rapids Griffins |
AHL |
71 |
11 |
9 |
20 |
93 |
| |
Playoffs |
10 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
8 |
Player statistics © www.eliteprospects.com
