BOSTON — When the Bruins sent Matt Poitras and Mike Callahan back to Providence for the NHL 4 Nations Face-Off break, Poitras seemed certain to come back when the season restarted.
Callahan’s status was less certain. At that point, Charlie McAvoy was healthy and interim coach Joe Sacco had indicated that Hampus Lindholm would likely be returning soon, which could have made Callahan expendable.
But two weeks later, McAvoy is out indefinitely with a shoulder injury he suffered in the Four Nations. Lindholm is done for the season after the Bruins have slowed the pace of his rehabilitation.
So Callahan not only returned with Poitras, but he’s likely to play with some regularity for the foreseeable future.
The 25-year-old from Franklin will be a free agent after this season. He’s in his fourth season as a professional after playing at Providence College. He obviously wasn’t rooting for injuries to McAvoy and Lindholm, but since they happened, he’s got to take advantage.
“Circumstances are circumstances, I wish those guys the best. But it’s a huge opportunity for me,” Callahan said. “When you first come up it’s a clean slate and you’re hyper-focused on keeping things simple. As the games build up you get a little more comfortable and I think that’s been the case for me. ”
He said he’s more focused on making a good impression and helping the Bruins than better positioning himself for free agency this summer although realistically doing one helps the other.
“I’m just focused on doing what I can to help the team with games, especially in this time of year and the place we’re in,” he said. “(Free agency) is something to think about in the summertime when the season is over. I’m just excited to have the opportunity and I’m trying to make the most of it and help the team in any way I can to try to win games.”
Sacco has played Callahan in six straight games, largely replacing Jordan Oesterle in the lineup. Sacco said the challenge for Callahan is finding consistency.
“With any player, you get a little more comfortable the more games you play in the league, not that he has that many,” Sacco said. “It’s just getting used to the speed of the game. The physicality, the quickness. Things happen fast out there. He retains a lot of what we’re trying to get across, it’s just a matter of executing it game in and game out.”
The novelty of actually being a Bruin and playing for his childhood favorite team hasn’t entirely worn off yet for Callahan. Originally drafted by Arizona, his rights were traded to the Bruins while he was still in college.
“Growing up, it’s a dream and you never think it’s going to happen. When I was back in school and I found out I was going to get traded here, it was just kind of like ‘Is this real?’ Now so many years later when I‘m here and contributing to the team, it’s a dream come true,” he said. “It’s something I’m trying not to take for granted because you never know how long it’s going to last. …Just being able to play for the organizations has been awesome for me.”
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