Dennis Cholowski

Lore & Background

Cholowski began playing hockey in his native British Columbia, joining the Chilliwack Chiefs of the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL) from 2013 to 2016. He committed to St. Cloud State University and played one season there before moving to the Western Hockey League (WHL) with the Prince George Cougars, where he was named captain in 2017. He was later traded to the Portland Winterhawks. After being drafted by the Red Wings, he signed an entry-level contract in 2017 and joined their AHL affiliate, the Grand Rapids Griffins.

Cholowski made the Red Wings' opening night roster in 2018 and scored his first NHL goal in his debut. He split time between Detroit and Grand Rapids until 2021. In the 2021 NHL expansion draft, he was selected by the Seattle Kraken but was quickly claimed off waivers by the Washington Capitals, playing seven games before being re-claimed by Seattle. He then played for the Kraken and their AHL affiliate, the Charlotte Checkers. In 2022, he signed with the New York Islanders and played for their AHL team, the Bridgeport Islanders, before being traded to the New Jersey Devils in 2025.

Reader's Guide

Cholowski's career illustrates the path of a high draft pick who moved through multiple organizations. Selected 20th overall by Detroit in 2016, he was the highest-drafted St. Cloud State commit at the time. His NHL debut and first goal came on the same night in 2018. After four seasons with the Red Wings organization, he was left unprotected in the 2021 expansion draft and selected by Seattle, beginning a period of frequent team changes. He was claimed off waivers by Washington, then re-claimed by Seattle, and later signed with the New York Islanders before being traded to New Jersey in 2025. Throughout, he has also played extensively in the AHL for Grand Rapids, Charlotte, and Bridgeport. His international experience includes representing Canada West at the 2015 World Junior A Challenge, where he registered two assists and won a gold medal.

Did You Know?

• Cholowski was drafted 20th overall by Detroit in 2016 after the Red Wings traded the 16th overall pick and Pavel Datsyuk's contract to Arizona.
• He was named captain of the Prince George Cougars in November 2017.
• Cholowski scored his first NHL goal in his debut game on October 4, 2018.
• He was selected by the Seattle Kraken in the 2021 NHL expansion draft.