DETROIT – The Detroit Red Wings today re-signed right wing Mitch Callahan to a one-year contract and agreed to terms with defenseman Nick Jensen on a two-year contract. In accordance with club policy, additional details will not be disclosed.
A native of Whittier, Calif., Callahan has skated in 237 games with the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins over the past four seasons, logging 111 points (59-52-111), 271 penalty minutes and a plus-20 rating. The 23-year-old forward had a career year in 2013-14, setting career highs in goals (26), assists (18), points (44) and plus-minus (plus-23) in 70 games played. He was on pace to best his point total in 2014-15 until a knee injury ended his season after he recorded 38 points (16-22-38) in 48 games. Callahan still ranked among Griffins leaders with 16 goals (T4th), 22 assists (T5th), 38 points (T5th), four power-play goals (T4th) and 129 shots on goal (9th).
Originally drafted by Detroit in the sixth round (180th overall) of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, Callahan made his NHL debut with the Red Wings during the 2013-14 season, logging 9:01 of ice time on March 25, 2014 at Columbus. The 6-foot, 195-lb., winger was also a member of the Griffins’ 2013 Calder Cup championship team in 2013, notching 11 points (6-5-11) in 24 postseason games. He has totaled 16 points (7-9-16) in 32 career AHL playoff games. Prior to turning pro, Callahan recorded 128 points (57-71-128) and 440 penalty minutes in 204 Western Hockey League games with the Kelowna Rockets, winning a WHL championship in 2009. He was also a member of the United States’ bronze-medal winning team at the 2011 IIHF World Junior Championship.
Jensen, 24, tripled his offensive output from his rookie AHL season in 2013-14 by registering 27 points (6-21-27) in 75 games with the Griffins this season after tallying nine points (0-9-9) in 45 games last year. The 6-foot, 200-lb., blueliner placed second among Grand Rapids defensemen in scoring this season and ranked among club leaders with 21 assists (6th) and a plus-30 rating (T1st), which tied for the best plus-minus in the AHL. Jensen has also logged four points (0-4-4) in 26 career AHL playoff games.
The Rogers, Minn., native also spent three seasons at St. Cloud State University from 2010-13, tallying 86 points (15-71-86) in 118 games. Jensen capped off his collegiate career in 2012-13 as an NCAA West First-Team All-American, and he was named the WCHA’s Defensive Player of the Year. Detroit’s fifth round pick (150th overall) in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft was a two-time WCHA All-Academic Team Selection and was also a WCHA Third-Team All-Star in 2012. Prior to his time with the Huskies, Jensen had 49 points (11-38-49) in 105 games with the United States Hockey League’s Green Bay Gamblers. He was a USHL All-Star in 2010 and helped the club win a Clark Cup championship.
Mitch Callahan, Right Wing
Born Aug 17 1991 — Whittier, CA
Height 6.00 — Weight 190 — Shoots R
Selected by Detroit Red Wings round 6 #180 overall 2009 NHL Entry Draft
— Regular Season — —- Playoffs —-
Season Team Lge GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
——————————
2008-09 Kelowna Rockets WHL 70 14 13 27 188 22 1 3 4 43
2009-10 Kelowna Rockets WHL 72 20 27 47 165 12 2 4 6 10
2010-11 Kelowna Rockets WHL 62 23 31 54 87 10 5 4 9 17
2011-12 Grand Rapids Griffins AHL 48 6 3 9 103 — — — — —
2012-13 Grand Rapids Griffins AHL 71 11 9 20 93 24 6 5 11 33
2013-14 Grand Rapids Griffins AHL 70 26 18 44 51 8 1 4 5 6
2013-14 Detroit Red Wings NHL 1 0 0 0 0 — — — — —
2014-15 Grand Rapids Griffins AHL 48 16 22 38 24 — — — — —
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NHL Totals 1 0 0 0 0
Nick Jensen, Defense
Born Sep 21 1990 — Rogers, MN
Height 6.00 — Weight 200 — Shoots R
Selected by Detroit Red Wings round 5 #150 overall 2009 NHL Entry Draft
— Regular Season — —- Playoffs —-
Season Team Lge GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
——————————
2008-09 Green Bay Gamblers USHL 52 5 17 22 27 7 0 1 1 2
2009-10 Green Bay Gamblers USHL 53 6 21 27 35 12 2 6 8 6
2010-11 St. Cloud State WCHA 38 5 18 23 18 — — — — —
2011-12 St. Cloud State WCHA 39 6 26 32 4 — — — — —
2012-13 St. Cloud State WCHA 42 4 27 31 14 — — — — —
2013-14 Grand Rapids Griffins AHL 45 0 9 9 8 10 0 1 1 2
2013-14 Toledo Walleye ECHL 3 0 0 0 0 — — — — —
2014-15 Grand Rapids Griffins AHL 75 6 21 27 15 16 0 3 3 4
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