The New York Islanders, parent club of the AHL’s Bridgeport Sound Tigers, have announced the signing of defenseman Joe Callahan to a one-year, two-way contract.
Callahan was one of the top defensemen for the AHL’s Portland Pirates in 2007-08, finishing the regular season with a plus-2 rating and ranking third among team blueliners with 24 points (1-23-24) in 65 games.
A native of Brockton, Mass., Callahan led all Pirates defensemen and finished fourth overall on the team with 12 points (1-11-12) in 18 Calder Cup Playoff games last spring as Portland went all the way to Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals before falling to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.
Originally drafted by Phoenix in 2002, Callahan has totaled 59 points (7-52-59) in 298 career AHL games for Springfield, Utah, San Antonio, and Portland.
Callahan played three seasons for Yale University prior to turning pro, compiling 11 goals and 33 assists for a total of 44 points.
