We see them every June and September in news about the Red Wings.

Young men who appear to have the world by the tail with talent and potential.

They just need some time to adjust to a higher level, to mold their talents into something that will help them reach, and thrive, at the next level.

The post Red Wings Prospects Don’t Always Pan Out (+) appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

NHL teams never grow weary of giving fresh starts to NHL first-round draft picks.

The Detroit Red Wings drafted Dennis Cholowski 20th overall in 2016 and this season he will play for his fourth NHL organization. Islanders general manager Lou Lamoriello gave Cholowski a two-year contract for an average of $762,500 per season.

According to CapFriendly.com, Cholowski’s NHL salary is $750,000 and his minor league salary is $200,000 for this season. The 24-year-old Canadian is guaranteed $225,000. CapFriendly.com shows that next season the deal pays him $775,000 whether he is in the NHL or the American Hockey League.

That contract suggests the Islanders still see some potential in Cholowski, who was waived twice last season. Right now, he might be No. 7 or No. 8 on the New York Islanders defensive depth chart.

Cholowski is a good low-cost bet for #isles. Former 1st round draft pick. Outlook pre-draft:

Smooth skating offensive-minded defenceman with top-four upside if he can improve defensively. Has the ability to quarterback a power play at the NHL level.

— James Nichols (@JamesNicholsNYI) August 23, 2022

The Seattle Kraken claimed him from Detroit in the expansion draft on July 21, 2021.  When he couldn’t crack the team’s lineup last October, they put him on waivers. The Washington Capitals claimed him. Later in the season, on Feb. 9, the Capitals waived him. The Kraken reclaimed him.

Cholowski played seven games for Washington and four for Seattle. He managed three assists in those 11 games. But the Kraken decided not to give him a qualifying offer, making him an unrestricted free agent.

Since he turned pro, the read on Cholowski hasn’t changed. He is a smooth offensive defenseman, a gifted puck handler. But he’s not aggressive enough defensively as he needs to be. Cholowski played 52 games for the Red Wings in 2018-19 and registered seven goals.

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Cholowski had nine goals in his first 88 NHL games. But his plus-minus was -46 in those 88 games.

It’s not uncommon for first-round picks who fail to stick with their original team to get multiple chances for a fresh start. The Vancouver Canucks drafted defenseman Olli Juolevi fifth overall in the same 2016 NHL draft.  He has played for Vancouver, the Florida Panthers and Detroit Red Wings.

The Red Wings didn’t make him a qualifying offer and he signed with the Anaheim Ducks.

The Islanders clearly were looking to add some defensive depth for the organization. Cholowski can help their AHL affiliate and be there if they need help because of injuries. He totaled 18 points in 31 games for the AHL’s Charlotte Checkers.

The Islanders know Cholowski has first-round skill, and every GM believes his team can develop players better than other teams.

The post Former Red Wing Cholowski Joins His Fourth NHL Organization appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

Two Detroit Red Wings’ first-round picks, Evgeny Svechnikov (drafted 19th in 2015) and Dennis Cholowski (drafted 20th in 2016), are among those still looking for jobs in the NHL free agent marketplace.

Some fans thought Svechnikov never had a fair opportunity in Detroit because of multiple injuries. There was a belief that he might find a home with the Winnipeg Jets. It didn’t happen. He received his opportunity, played 72 games, and registered seven goals and 19 points. He even spent some time on the team’s top line. The Winnipeg Jets didn’t make Svechnikov a qualifying offer, making him a free agent.

Meanwhile, Cholowski, claimed by Seattle in the expansion draft, was waived, claimed by Washington, waived by the Capitals and claimed again by Seattle. He played a total of 11 games with Washington and Seattle. He didn’t receive a qualifying offer, putting him in the free agent market.

Svechnikov is 25 and Cholowski is 24. Maybe an NHL team will give them a look. But isn’t it time to close the book on their long-term potential?

Dennis Cholowski fans, there is hope. https://t.co/EMuhyx5KxO

— The Grind Line Podcast (@GrindLinePod) July 12, 2022

In Case You Missed It

Nate Brown of Detroit Hockey Now contrasted the Detroit Red Wings‘ Yzerplan against the messy Philadelphia Flyers’ attempt to alter their future.

Detroit Hockey Now reviewed defenseman Jared McIsaac’s potential as a Detroit Red Wings‘ prospect.

Simon Edvinsson continues to grow on the Detroit Red Wings. He is now 6-foot-6 and change.

Trade talk

Montreal Hockey Now looks at the possibility that the Montreal Canadiens might flip newly-acquired center Kirby Dach. The Athletic originally reported about the possibility of Winnipeg and Montreal management discussing a Pierre-Luc Dubois deal.

Hockey Now Network

Boston: Bruins assistant coach Joe Sacco interviewed to become the San Jose Sharks assistant coach.

Colorado: The Colorado Avalanche are still trying to persuade Nazem Kadri to stay with the team. But there’s not a deal yet, according to Adrian Dater.

New York: Stefen Rosner has an interesting take on whether Nazem Kadri is a good fit for the New York Islanders. 

Philadelphia: The Philadelphia Flyers hope it is time for Morgan Frost to become a bigger factor with the team.

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Pittsburgh: Dan Kingerski of Pittsburgh Hockey Now breaks down the two recent Pittsburgh Penguins trades and he sees a problem.

San Jose: Sheng Peng of San Jose Hockey Now reports that the San Jose Sharks will hire Scott Fitzgerald as their new scouting director.

Vancouver: Wired-in Hockey Now reporter Rob Simpson ranks the Vancouver Canucks‘ Russian players in terms of impact.

Washington: Sammi Silber of Washington Hockey Now writes about which prospects stood out during the Washington Capitals Development camp.

The post The Daily: Former Red Wings Svechnikov, Cholowski Looking For Work appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

At one time, defenseman Dennis Cholowski was figuring on being part of the future of the Detroit Red Wings. Sunday, after a long wait, Cholowski finally became part of the present for the Washington Capitals.

He’d been healthy scratch for 17 consecutive games since the Capitals claimed Cholowski on waivers from the expansion Seattle Kraken. Cholowski was set to add No. 18 to that streak when Washington forward Conor Sheary was injured during the warmup for the Caps’ game against, of all teams, the Kraken.

Left Unprotected By Red Wings

The Red Wings left Cholowski unprotected and he was claimed by the Kraken in last summer’s NHL expansion draft.

Dennis Cholowski turnover and then turnstiled lol. Here's hoping the Caps never go 7D again this season. https://t.co/YDMH9gNvyA

— Jace Evans (@JaceTEvans) November 22, 2021

Called into emergency duty, Cholowski skated shifts on defense and on the wing. He played 9:57, blocked a pair of shots and was minus-2. He got walked by Calle Jarnkrok, another former Red Wings prospects, on Seattle’s second goal.

Trade Talk

NHL executives are telling Vancouver Hockey Now’s Rob Simpson that the name of Canucks forward Brock Boeser has been out there in trade talks since the summer.

Canucks GM Jim Benning recently stated that he’d explore all options when it came to shaking up his struggling club. Boeser will be a restricted free agent at season’s end and figures to draw a salary in the $6 million AAV range.

Around The League

Pittsbugh: Completing a perfect 3-0 Canadian trip, the Penguins dropped the Winnipeg Jets 3-1.

Detroit: Sebastian Cossa, the Red Wings’ goalie of the future, continues to loom large between the pipes for the WHL’s Edmonton Oil Kings.

Islanders: Losing their first two games at new UBS Arena, the Isles have now lost six in a row. The season is in jeopardy of getting away from them.

Toronto: How do the Maple Leafs’ forward grade out so far this season?

Seattle: The Kraken are new to the NHL, but any suggestion that hockey is new to Seattle is a foolish notion.

San Jose: Evander Kane’s 21-game NHL suspension will soon end. He’s eligible to return to the Sharks on Nov. 30. Will he? Even the Sharks don’t seem to know that answer.

The post Duffer’s Dabbles: Former Red Wings D Cholowski Makes Long-Awaited Caps Debut appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

Defenseman Dennis Cholowski, a 2016 Detroit Red Wings’ first round, is going to get a third chance to make a first impression.

The Washington Capitals claimed Cholowski off waivers from Seattle Kraken Thursday. The Kraken picked him off the Detroit Red Wings’ roster in the expansion draft.

Cholowski, 23, couldn’t crack the Kraken’s top eight defenseman. Because he is out of options, Dennis Cholowski has to clear waivers to be sent to the minors. The Capitals sent Beck Malenstyn to the AHL to make room for Cholowski.

The Capitals are only carrying seven defenseman on their roster and Matt Irwin appears to be the No. 7 defenseman.

Cholowski played 104 games, registering 10 goals and 17 assists. Cholowski has always demonstrated an offensive spark, a sense for when to jump into the attack. But he’s never been able to satisfy his professional coaches when it comes to intensity.  He posted 26 penalty minutes in his 104 games, perhaps an indication that he doesn’t engage as much as he should.

Dennis Cholowski Compared to Chychrun

The Red Wings left him exposed in the expansion draft, opting to keep Gustav Lindstrom, a more consistent player at the NHL level. They probably would have protected Cholowski had they not acquired Nick Leddy from the New York Islanders.

Cholowski was drafted during the Ken Holland regime. Fans were disappointed because they wanted the Red Wings to draft Jakob Chychrun. The Red Wings could have done that. But they chose to move down in the draft. The Red Wings swapped picks with the Arizona Coyotes to move Pavel Datsyuk’s contract.

As Chychrun developed into a top pairing defenseman and Cholowski didn’t, the fan base became even more irritated.

The Capitals are looking for younger defensemen. If Cholowski could develop a commitment toward improved play without the puck, he might have a good opportunity with Washington.

The post Former Red Wing Dennis Cholowski claimed by Washington Capitals appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

The Seattle Kraken’s evaluation of Dennis Cholowski turned out to be exactly the same as the Detroit Red Wings’ assessment.

The Kraken waived Cholowski, 23, Wednesday. If he clears waivers today, which is expected, he will be sent to the Kraken’s minor league affiliate.

Coach Dave Hakstol kept eight defensemen, but Cholowski was unable to earn a spot. Former Buffalo Sabres player William Borgen and ex-Minnesota Wild player Carson Souchy are the No. 7 and No. 8 Seattle defensemen.

The Red Wings drafted Dennis Cholowski 20th overall in 2016. He played 104 games, registering 10 goals and 17 assists. Cholowski has always demonstrated an offensive knack, a sense for when to jump into the rush. But he’s never been able to satisfy his professional coaches when it comes to intensity.  He posted 26 penalty minutes in his 104 games, perhaps an indication that he doesn’t engage as much as he should.

The Red Wings left him exposed in the expansion draft, opting to keep Gustav Lindstrom who had been a more consistent player at the NHL level. They probably would have protected Cholowski had they not acquired Nick Leddy from the New York Islanders.

Cholowski a Holland Pick

Cholowski was drafted during the Ken Holland regime. Fans were disappointed because they wanted the Red Wings to draft Jakob Chychrun. They could have done that. But they chose to move down in the draft. The Red Wings swapped picks with the Arizona Coyotes to move Pavel Datsyuk’s contract.

As Chychrun continued to blossom into a top pairing defenseman and Cholowski didn’t, that decision irritated the fan base even more.

Cholowski still has hope to reach the NHL. Teams traditionally lose defenseman frequently to injury. It seems likely the Kraken would want to see Cholowski at the NHL level. The Charlotte Checkers are Seattle’s minor league team. Would guess Cholowski, presuming he plays well, will get a call-up at some point.

The post Seattle Kraken waive former Detroit Red Wings D Man Dennis Cholowski appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

Former Detroit Red Wings defenseman Dennis Cholowski was still on the Seattle Kraken roster this morning. But his status seemed tenuous heading into today’s 5 p.m. ET final roster deadline.

Cholowski, the Red Wings’ 2016 first-round draft pick, has two assists in two preseason games this season. He is also minus-2.

The Kraken selected him from the Red Wings in the expansion draft.  This wasn’t considered a significant loss for Detroit because he was out of options and wasn’t a lock to make this season’s Detroit roster.

Dennis Cholowski boasted offensive skill, but coaches wanted more intensity from him on the ice.

If you look at Seattle’s roster, Dennis Cholowski looks like the No. 9 defenseman. The Kraken will only keep seven or eight. They could have injuries that they haven’t yet reported. That could give Cholowski a chance. Otherwise, he will end up on waivers.

Around the NHL

Detroit: General manager Steve Yzerman was aggressive this season, adding a few players in name of improving the Red Wings’ lineup. The best move may have been the signing of Pius Suter.

Vancouver:  Defenseman Travis Hamonic never showed up at training camp. It’s rumored he didn’t want to be vaccinated. As a result, the Canucks waived him. 

Washington: Alex Ovechkin is injured. He’s out day-to-day after he ran an opponent from behind. That opened the door for Connor McMichael to play on the Capitals top line on Sunday. 

Florida: The Panthers made an intriguing NHL/AHL trade with Vancouver, acquiring 2016 fifth overall pick Olli Juolevi for Juho Lammikko and Noah Juulsen. The deal from the Panthers’ perspective. 

Vancouver:  The Canucks’ perspective is Juolevi alienated himself from coaches after he curled into a ball on the ice during Day 1 conditioning drills. It wasn’t a good look for Juolevi. 

With roster decisions due today, this may inspire a few trades today or tomorrow.  Could Buffalo finally move Jack Eichel?  It still seems like it would easier to move him if the Sabres allowed him to have his surgery.

The post The Daily: Ex-Detroit Red Wing Dennis Cholowski On the Bubble in Seattle appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

Last week, while forward Michael Rasmussen was agreeing to terms on a new contract with the Detroit Red Wings, Dennis Cholowski’s tenure as a Red Wing was coming to an end.

Defenseman Cholowski was the Red Wings players selected by the Seattle Kraken in the NHL expansion draft.

I was with him when he kind of found out the news,” Rasmussen said. “I’ve definitely been in touch with him.

“It’s tough. I’ll definitely miss him and a lot of the guys will miss him.”

Watching from afar the glamorous lifestyle that professional athletes lead, it’s easy to forget that their also human beings, with standard human emotions. Theirs is a profession in which the upending of lives is commonplace. The separation of friends can arrive at a moment’s notice. Yet, expectations are they they’ll go on with life as if it’s business as usual.

Yes, it’s part of the the life they choose to lead but that doesn’t make parting any less sorrowful.

“He’s kind of a Day 1 guy for me,” Rasmussen send of Cholowski. Cholowski was Detroit’s top pick in the 2016 NHL entry draft. Ramsmussen was chosen in the first round in 2017. “We’re kind of in it together since Day 1.

“He’ll definitely be missed by me. We’ve always kind of tried to have each other’s backs and lift each other up and support each other.

“That won’t change. We’ll still do that for each other. I guess kind of on opposite ends of the spectrum now.”

Opportunity Knocks

On a positive note, Rasmussen believes that moving to Seattle could provide the elixir that gets Cholowski’s NHL career cracking.

“Seeing him around and texting him, I think he’s excited,” Rasmussen said. “He’s gonna do great things wherever he would be.

“I’m happy for him and I’m excited for him.”

The post Saying Goodbye Is Never Easy, Not Even For NHLers appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

Sportsnet’s Mark Specter is reporting that Detroit Red Wings defenseman Dennis Cholowski will be announced as a selection in the Seattle Kraken’s expansion draft.

Cholowski was the Red Wings’ first round pick in 2016 and hasn’t developed the way the Red Wings hoped he would. Many fans hoped the Kraken would take Cholowski over Troy Stecher who has become a modest fan favorite. Stecher plays with energy and likes to move up into the offensive flow.

The full team, along with trades, will be announced tonight at 8 p.m. on ESPN2

Cholowski’s name was the last name revealed on the Kraken’s draft list. Specter reported the Kraken couldn’t reach him all day. Cholowski was the player chosen by Detroit after he traded spots with the Arizona Coyotes in the first round. The Red Wings agreed to that because the Coyotes were willing to take Datsyuk’s contract after he left the NHL.  The Coyotes used the Red Wings ‘ original draft spot to take Jakob Chychrun who has developed into a strong all-around defenseman.

Cholowski, 23, is an offensive defenseman and has demonstrated an offensive knack, but he has’t been assertive enough defensively to hold a job. Because the Cholowski is out of options, the Red Wings were going to give him a long look next season.

It was assumed the Red Wings were going to protect Cholowski, but that changed when the Red Wings acquired Nick Leddy. The Red Wings protected Filip Hronek, Leddy and Gustav Lindstrom on defense.

Here is Seattle’s team, based on media reports. T

1. ANA: Haydn Fleury
2. SJS: Alexander True
3. COL: Joonas Donskoi
4. CAR: Morgan Geekie
5. WPG: Mason Appleton
6. CGY: Mark Giordano
7. OTT: Joey Daccord
8. NYI: Jordan Eberle
9. LAK: Kurtis MacDermid
10. VAN: Kole Lind
11. BOS: Jeremy Lauzon
12. CBJ: Gavin Bayreuther
13. MIN: Carson Soucy
14. FLA: Chris Driedger
15. WSH: Vitek Vanecek
16. TOR: Jared McCann
17. TBL: Yanni Gourde
18. EDM: Adam Larsson
19. DAL: Jamie Oleksiak
20. NYR: Collin Blackwell
21. AZ: Tyler Pitlick
22. NJD: Nathan Bastian
23. PHI: Carsen Twarynski
24. NSH: Calle Järnkrok
25. BUF: William Borgen
26. DET:Dennis Cholowski
27. CHI: John Quenneville
28. STL: Vince Dunn
29. MTL: Cale Fleury
30. PIT: Brandon Tanev

The post Detroit Red Wings Lose defenseman Dennis Cholowski to Seattle in Expansion Draft appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

Detroit Hockey Now polled a scout, two general managers,  two broadcasters, four journalists, an ex-NHL player and a former team executive and 54.5% of them think defenseman Troy Stecher will be the Seattle Kraken’s expansion draft pick from Detroit.

Six of the 11 panelists took Stecher. Defenseman Dennis Cholowski received two votes and left wing Evgeny Svechnikov, center Vladimir Namestnikov and Danny Dekeyser received one vote each.

“Cholowski might end being the better player,” said one Stecher supporter. “But he is out of options.”

Stecher is 5-foot-10, 185 pounds and won over fans with an energetic style and a willingness to jump into the play offensively.  Stecher set up the game-winning overtime goal for Canada against Russia at the World Championships with a spectacular move. He made a slick between-the-legs move to slide around one opponent and then danced around another before making a nifty goalmouth pass. Andrew Mangiapane knocked the pass home for the game-winner.

Former North Dakota college player Stecher has 136 points in 330 NHL games. He played in Vancouver before coming to Detroit. “I’d go with Stecher if they want to compete soon,” said one of his supporters.

Stecher is 27, while Cholowski, a 2016 first round pick, is 23. “What you see is what you get with Stecher, while there is still plenty of up-side with Cholowski,” said another voter.

Centers in Short Supply

Namestnikov, 28, has played 10 NHL seasons and once scored 22 goals in a season. “There are not a lot of centers available to the Kraken,” said the Namestnikov voter.

One gambling website lists Svechnikov as the betting favorite to be the Seattle pick. A case could be made that Svechnikov could be a good third liner for Seattle and maybe more if he continues to develop. But he’s 24 now. The Kraken could probably draft Stecher and pick up Svechnikov for future considerations. He doesn’t seem to be in Detroit’s plans.

If Cholowski isn’t taken, the Red Wings will give him an opportunity to play regularly this season. He has shown an offensive flair, but hasn’t competed hard enough to please coaches.

The post Red Wings Likely to Lose Veteran Defenseman in Expansion Draft appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.