Bruins Defenseman Fined for Incident Against Ducks

A new Boston Bruins defenseman is already on the league's radar following an incident against the Anaheim Ducks.

Jan 14, 2025; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Bruins defenseman Michael Callahan (79) skates against the Tampa Bay Lightning during the first period at the TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images / Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images

Michael Callahan isn’t far removed from his NHL debut as a member of the Boston Bruins, but the league has already started keeping an eye on the 25-year-old defenseman. In his 14th career game, the Bruins got routed by the Anaheim Ducks by a score of 6-2.

Tempers ran high between the Bruins and Ducks, and the NHL handed out a fine to Callahan. The NHL Department of Player Safety announced that Callahan was fined $2,018.23 for a cross-checking incident against Ducks’ forward Jansen Harkins.

Boston’s Michael Callahan has been fined $2,018.23, the maximum allowable under the CBA, for cross-checking against Anaheim’s Jansen Harkins.

— NHL Player Safety (@NHLPlayerSafety) March 27, 2025

According to the NHL, the incident occurred at the 13:56 mark of the second period. Callahan was given a four-minute double-minor penalty for high sticking on the play, but the league determined there was more to be punished.

The high-sticking/cross-checking incident wasn’t the last run in between Callahan and Harkins in the Ducks blowout victory. Early in the third period, with the Ducks up 5-1, Callahan and Harkins dropped the gloves for Callahan’s first career fight.

Originally a fifth-round pick (142nd overall) of the Arizona Coyotes in 2018, Callahan is a native of Massachusetts and has been a regular in the Bruins lineup over the last few games.

With only 14 career games under his belt, he is yet to score a point. The seven penalty minutes collected against the Ducks were the first of his career.

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