The Bruins announced they’ve recalled forward John Farinacci and defenseman Frederic Brunet from AHL Providence on an emergency basis. Both players could make their NHL debuts tomorrow against the Devils. The team returned fellow emergency call-ups Michael Callahan and Riley Duran to the P-Bruins in corresponding moves.
Farinacci arrives in Boston amid his second professional season. Initially a third-round pick of the Coyotes in 2019, he opted not to sign with Arizona upon finishing his collegiate career at Harvard in 2023. He signed an entry-level contract with the Bruins as an Aug. 15 free agent following an injury-shortened 2022-23 campaign with Harvard, still serving as team captain and notching 5-15–20 in 19 games.
The cousin of Blackhawks forward Ryan Donato hasn’t quite provided that level of offense in the AHL for Providence, but the 24-year-old is still making strides. After posting 12-26–38 in 71 games last season, he’s nearly matched that point total in 57 appearances this year (9-28–37). That puts him in a tie for seventh on the team in scoring, and the 5’11” center/right-winger also has a plus-nine rating.
He could directly replace Duran, who made his NHL debut in Boston’s last two games, as the Bruins’ fourth-line right wing in their final game of the season. Duran, 23, averaged 12:44 per game across the pair of contests and managed five shots on goal, although that effort didn’t result in his first NHL point. He recorded six hits and a minus-one rating, and Boston dominated play at even strength with a 78.1 CF% in his limited minutes. Few expected better from Duran, who has 12-4–16 in 58 games in his first full AHL season.
Brunet is the far younger of the two call-ups. The 21-year-old rearguard was selected in the fifth round of the 2022 draft by the Bruins and, so far, looks to be overperforming his draft slot. The 6’3″, 196-lb lefty has been a solid two-way presence with a physical edge over his first two professional seasons. He’s been one of Providence’s best defensemen in 2024-25, placing second on the team in scoring among blue-liners with 5-19–24 in 68 games. He also ranks third on the team with a +14 rating.
That’s good enough to make him the top U-23 defense prospect in Boston’s underwhelming pool, opines Scott Wheeler of The Athletic. While the No. 7 prospect overall, there’s legitimate third-pairing upside in his game in a few years, Wheeler writes. He could get that first chance to flash it as the Bruins conclude a disappointing season, potentially even making himself a dark horse for an opening-night job in 2025-26.
As for Callahan, he ends his first NHL season with one goal and a minus-five rating in 17 games. Boston first recalled the stay-at-home defender in January and has periodically given him time on the active roster since. The 25-year-old lefty averaged 14:09 per game and was a relative nonfactor, posting a 43.8 CF% and 43.3 xGF% at even strength in heavy defensive deployment. Despite checking in at 6’2″ and 200 lbs, he wasn’t an imposing factor physically, logging only 12 blocks and eight hits. The pending restricted free agent has 1-7–8 and a plus-four rating in 43 games with the P-Bruins this year.