Islanders Place Dennis Cholowski On Waivers

1 day ago  /  NHL Trade Rumors

In a surprising move, the New York Islanders have placed defenseman Dennis Cholowski on waivers, Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet reports. This season, Cholowski has made his mark with an impressive stat line, netting three goals and dishing out seven assists, totaling 10 points across 33 games.  As the New York Islanders gear up to return from the break, they’re poised to free up a roster spot, with defensemen Scott Mayfield and Ryan Pulock expected to return from standard IR and LTIR, respectively, ahead of Sunday’s clash against the Stars. Meant to tweet this last week if someone can find this...Dennis Cholowski had a 2-point night in Florida a few weeks ago with his ice-time being under ten minutes at 9:50.Was that the first time an #Isles player had two points playing such limited minutes? Or who did it last? https://t.co/7pXR9JY8F0— Isles Den (@IslesDen) February 20, 2025Back in July 2024, Cholowski inked a one-year two-way contract for a $775,000 NHL cap hit for the 2024-25 season, with a minor-league salary of $250,000. $300,000 of the contract is guaranteed.To make room for the two defencemen, the Islanders will need to either assign Dennis Cholowski to the minors or risk losing him to another team, creating the necessary space.Cholowski, who celebrated his 27th birthday earlier this week, has enjoyed his most significant NHL playing time in five years this season. With injuries plaguing the Islanders’ defensive corps, Cholowski—originally slotted as the team’s seventh defenseman—has stepped up, appearing in 33 of 55 games. While his average ice time of 12:48 per game is the lowest among New York’s defensemen with multiple appearances, he’s made the most of his opportunities, contributing three goals and seven assists for a total of 10 points, along with a plus-one rating. Though not known for physical play (just five hits and 30 blocks), the 2016 first-round pick has proven to be a reliable depth option, showcasing his puck-moving abilities in his return to semi-regular NHL action.Unfortunately for Dennis Cholowski, the Islanders’ response to injuries on the blue line—specifically to Ryan Pulock and Noah Dobson—has complicated his role as the season progresses. The team bolstered their defensive depth by acquiring three skilled puck-moving defensemen: Adam Boqvist, Tony DeAngelo, and Scott Perunovich. Each of these additions brings either more experience or a higher potential ceiling than Cholowski, making it clear why the 6’2" left-handed defenseman has become the odd man out. With Pulock set to return, it’s no surprise that Cholowski is the one squeezed out of the lineup rather than any of the newer acquisitions.Over the course of 150 NHL games, Dennis Cholowski has notched 13 goals and 27 assists, totaling 40 points. However, he hasn’t seen action in the NHL since January 2023. In the AHL, across 235 appearances, he has tallied 17 goals and 105 assists, along with three assists in 12 Calder Cup Playoff games, showcasing his consistency and playmaking ability at the minor-league level.Image - Marc DesRosiers - Imagn ...

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