The Bruins are bolstering their pipeline of young talent in the system, with Don Sweeney pulling the trigger on a deal to add a poised blueliner from Hockey East. And yes, he's got ties to the Commonwealth.
Boston announced in a team release on Tuesday night that it has acquired the rights to Providence College defenseman Michael Callahan from the Arizona Coyotes in exchange for a seventh-round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft.
Callahan, 22, is a three-year captain with the Friars and projects as a steady defender capable of some offensive pop. The left-shot D has posted 66 points in 134 games with the Friars, and was originally selected in the fifth round (142nd overall) by the Coyotes.
The Franklin, Mass. native could become a free agent at the end of this collegiate season if he didn’t sign with whatever team held his rights. If Arizona was convinced that Callahan wasn’t going to sign with them, dealing his rights to a team like Boston made plenty of sense.
As for the Bruins, it sure seems like a pretty low-risk move when it comes to swapping a seventh-rounder two years down the road for a prospect that (so long as he signs) should be poised to jump into the pro ranks and contribute against AHL competition as soon as this spring.
No, it's not Jakob Chychrun or Phil Kessel, but the Bruins made a proactive move with Arizona to add another solid prospect to their pool of young skaters.