Dennis Cholowski (born February 15, 1998) is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman for the New York Islanders of the National Hockey League (NHL). Cholowski was drafted 20th overall by the Detroit Red Wings in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft, and has also briefly played for the Washington Capitals and Seattle Kraken.

Dennis Cholowski
Cholowski with the Seattle Kraken in 2022
Born (1998-02-15) February 15, 1998 (age 26)
Langley, British Columbia, Canada
Height 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight 195 lb (88 kg; 13 st 13 lb)
Position Defence
Shoots Left
NHL team
Former teams
New York Islanders
Detroit Red Wings
Washington Capitals
Seattle Kraken
NHL draft 20th overall, 2016
Detroit Red Wings
Playing career 2017–present

Playing career

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Junior

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During the 2015–16 season, Cholowski recorded 12 goals and 28 assists in 50 games for the Chilliwack Chiefs. He led the Chiefs' defencemen in scoring, and finished fifth among BCHL defencemen with 40 points.[1] In the playoffs, he finished first in postseason scoring by a defenceman with four goals and 11 assists in 20 games. He was named to the 2016 BCHL Second All-Star Team.[2]

College

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During the 2016–17 season, in his freshman season, Cholowski recorded one goal and 11 assists in 36 games for the St. Cloud State Huskies.[3]

Major junior

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On September 26, 2017, Cholowski was assigned to the Prince George Cougars of the Western Hockey League.[4] On November 21, 2017, Cholowski was named captain of the Cougars.[5]

On January 10, 2018, Cholowski was traded to the Portland Winterhawks, along with Ty Taylor, in exchange for Ilijah Colina, Connor Bowie, a first-round pick in 2020, a second-round pick in 2018, a second-round pick in 2019, and a third-round pick in 2020. Prior to being traded, he recorded 13 goals and 26 assists in 39 games for the Cougars, ranking second in the WHL in goals by a defenceman, and sixth in points.[6] He finished his first major junior campaign with 14 goals and 52 assists in 69 games between Prince George and Portland. He ranked among the WHL's top defencemen in points (8th), goals (T6th) and assists (8th).

Professional

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On April 5, 2017, the Detroit Red Wings signed Cholowski to a three-year, entry-level contract.[7] On April 7, Cholowski was signed to an amateur tryout by the Grand Rapids Griffins.[8] On April 18, 2018, Cholowski was reassigned to the Grand Rapids Griffins of the American Hockey League.[9] He made his professional debut for the Griffins on April 25, in a game against the Manitoba Moose, registering one shot on goal.[10]

The following season, Cholowski made the Red Wings opening night roster out of training camp. He made his NHL debut for the Red Wings on October 4, 2018, and scored his first career NHL goal in the second period against Joonas Korpisalo of the Columbus Blue Jackets.[11][12] On February 14, 2019, Cholowski was assigned to the Grand Rapids Griffins. Prior to being assigned to the Griffins, he recorded seven goals and nine assists in 52 games for the Red Wings, ranking third in points among rookie defencemen in the NHL.[13]

On July 21, 2021, Cholowski was selected by the Seattle Kraken in the 2021 NHL Expansion Draft and later signed a one-year, $900,000 deal with the team.[14][15] On October 13, 2021, he was placed on waivers and was claimed by the Washington Capitals.[16] Cholowski used by the Capitals primarily as a depth defenceman and healthy scratch, featured in just seven games registering one assist.

On February 8, 2022, Cholowski was waived by the Capitals and was subsequently re-claimed by Seattle.[17] He was immediately re-assigned by the Kraken to join AHL affiliate, the Charlotte Checkers.[18]

On August 23, 2022, Cholowski as a free agent signed a two-year, two-way contract in joining his fourth NHL club, the New York Islanders.[19]

Career statistics

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Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2013–14 Chilliwack Chiefs BCHL 1 0 0 0 0
2014–15 Chilliwack Chiefs BCHL 55 4 23 27 4 12 0 7 7 0
2015–16 Chilliwack Chiefs BCHL 50 12 28 40 16 20 4 11 15 4
2016–17 St. Cloud State NCHC 36 1 11 12 14
2016–17 Grand Rapids Griffins AHL 1 0 0 0 0
2017–18 Prince George Cougars WHL 37 13 26 39 14
2017–18 Portland Winterhawks WHL 32 1 26 27 18 12 5 2 7 6
2017–18 Grand Rapids Griffins AHL 1 0 0 0 0
2018–19 Grand Rapids Griffins AHL 25 0 12 12 12 5 0 2 2 2
2018–19 Detroit Red Wings NHL 52 7 9 16 16
2019–20 Grand Rapids Griffins AHL 30 3 10 13 8
2019–20 Detroit Red Wings NHL 36 2 6 8 6
2020–21 Grand Rapids Griffins AHL 13 3 7 10 6
2020–21 Detroit Red Wings NHL 16 1 2 3 4
2021–22 Washington Capitals NHL 7 0 1 1 2
2021–22 Charlotte Checkers AHL 31 3 15 18 8 6 0 1 1 0
2021–22 Seattle Kraken NHL 4 0 2 2 0
2022–23 Bridgeport Islanders AHL 67 1 37 38 26
2022–23 New York Islanders NHL 2 0 0 0 0
2023–24 Bridgeport Islanders AHL 68 7 24 31 6
NHL totals 117 10 20 30 28

References

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  1. ^ "Dennis Cholowski NHL draft profile". National Hockey League. 2016-06-24. Retrieved 2016-06-24.
  2. ^ Kujawa, Kyle (June 24, 2016). "Red Wings draft Dennis Cholowski in first round". Detroit Red Wings. Retrieved June 24, 2016.
  3. ^ Hatten, Mick (April 22, 2016). "A look at SCSU's possible freshmen for 2016-17". St. Cloud Times. Retrieved June 24, 2016.
  4. ^ Kujawa, Kyle (September 26, 2017). "Cholowski assigned to Western Hockey League". Detroit Red Wings. Retrieved September 26, 2017.
  5. ^ "Cougars name Red Wings prospect Dennis Cholowski as captain". Western Hockey League. November 21, 2017. Retrieved November 21, 2017.
  6. ^ "Winterhawks Acquire Defenseman Dennis Cholowski from Cougars". Portland Winterhawks. January 10, 2018. Retrieved January 10, 2018.
  7. ^ Kujawa, Kyle (April 5, 2017). "Red Wings agree with defenseman Dennis Cholowski". Detroit Red Wings. Retrieved April 5, 2017.
  8. ^ "Griffins Sign Cholowski to ATO". Grand Rapids Griffins. April 7, 2017. Retrieved April 7, 2017.
  9. ^ "Cholowski Reassigned to Griffins". Grand Rapids Griffins. April 18, 2018. Retrieved April 18, 2018.
  10. ^ "No Margin for Error". Grand Rapids Griffins. April 25, 2018. Retrieved April 25, 2018.
  11. ^ "Detroit Red Wings' Dennis Cholowski scores in NHL debut, season opener". Detroit Free Press. October 4, 2018. Retrieved October 4, 2018.
  12. ^ Wakiji, Dana; Regner, Art (October 4, 2018). "Notes: Five rookies set to make NHL debut for Wings tonight". NHL.com. Retrieved October 4, 2018.
  13. ^ "Red Wings assign Frk and Cholowski to Griffins". NHL.com. February 14, 2019. Retrieved February 15, 2019.
  14. ^ McWethy, Brett (July 21, 2021). "Dennis Cholowski selected by Seattle Kraken in 2021 NHL Expansion Draft". NHL.com. Retrieved July 21, 2021.
  15. ^ Condor, Bob (September 7, 2021). "Cholowski Joins Kraken Defense". NHL.com. Retrieved October 14, 2021.
  16. ^ "Caps claim D Cholowski off waivers from Kraken". TSN.ca. October 14, 2021. Retrieved October 14, 2021.
  17. ^ Seattle Kraken (February 8, 2022). "Kraken claim Cholowski off waivers". Twitter. Retrieved February 8, 2022.
  18. ^ "Kraken assign Cholowski to Charlotte". Charlotte Checkers. February 8, 2022. Retrieved February 8, 2022.
  19. ^ "Islanders sign four players". New York Islanders. August 23, 2022. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
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Awards and achievements
Preceded by Detroit Red Wings first-round draft pick
2016
Succeeded by