Panthers Acquire Defensemen Joe Callahan and T.J. Fast

Defenseman Joe Callahan

SUNRISE, Fla. – Florida Panthers General Manager Dale Tallon announced today that the team has acquired D T.J. Fast from the St. Louis Blues in exchange for F Graham Mink and signed free agent D Joe Callahan.
 
Fast, 22, spent the 2009-10 season with the Peoria Rivermen of the American Hockey League and the Alaska Aces of the East Coast Hockey League. He recorded one assist in 14 games with the Rivermen and 31 points (10-21-31) in 46 games with the Aces.
 
A Calgary native, the 6-foot, 185-pound Fast was drafted by the Los Angeles Kings in the second round (60th overall) of the 2005 NHL Entry Draft. He played two years at the University of Denver, recording 11 points and 40 penalty minutes in 58 total games for the Pioneers.
 
Callahan, 27, appeared in one game with the San Jose Sharks in 2009-10 and spent the rest of the season with the Worcester Sharks, San Jose’s AHL affiliate. He recorded an assist with San Jose and 15 points (4-11-15) in 35 games with Worcester.
 
Callahan also appeared in 18 NHL games with the New York Islanders during the 2008-09 season. He has recorded three assists in 19 career NHL games.
 
The 6-3, 220-pound Callahan, a Brockton, Mass. Native, was selected by the Phoenix Coyotes in the third round (70th overall) of the 2002 NHL Entry Draft. He played three years of college hockey at Yale University, where he recorded 44 points (11-33-44) in 94 career games for the Bulldogs. He has spent the last seven years in the AHL, including stints with the Springfield Falcons, Utah Grizzlies, San Antonio Rampage, Portland Pirates, Bridgeport Sound Tigers and Worcester.
 
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