|
Cholowski's chance to prove he's ready for prime time |
|
|
|
|
|
Dennis Cholowski knows where he wants to be come Oct. 5
That would be in the opening-night lineup of the Detroit Red Wings, but he shouldn’t hold his breath waiting for that to happen.
“I would say I don’t see that,” Detroit coach Jeff Blashill said. “It’s a day-by-day business, but I don’t see that.
“Had he had an unreal year at St. Cloud, built his resume up, that would be one thing, but he had a so-so year. But he’s building that resume. Let’s give him the first exhibition game. Let’s see how he does.”
Defenseman Cholowski,” Detroit’s top pick in the 2016 NHL entry draft, will suit up as the Wings open preseason play on the road Tuesday against the Boston Bruins, his first chance to show what he can do as a pro.
There are two other destinations as options for Cholowski as the preseason unfolds. Since he was since out of the NCAA, he could be assigned to play in the minor leagues, either with Grand Rapids (AHL) or Toledo (ECHL). If not, he’d play for Prince George (WHL), the team that holds his CHL rights. But Cholowski is of the opinion that Grand Rapids is a realistic landing spot.
Part of the rationale behind this line of thinking is the fact that is was the Wings who pursued him to leave college and turn pro sooner rather than later.
“It was actually Detroit that pushed for the contract,” Cholowski said. “They said they wanted me to speed up my development. They wanted me to sign and play more hockey. That was the main reason.”
Bereft of skilled, puck-moving defenders, the Wings know they need to fast-track Cholowski to the show, but it’s up to him to show he can make it in leaps and bounds rather than baby steps.
“So far, so good,” Cholowski assessed of his training-camp performance. “I’ll just try to keep playing my best and be hopefully on my way to a pro team this year. For sure, I want to play pro hockey.”
At the same time, he’s well aware that ultimately, his destination is not 100 percent within his control, though he can change minds via his performance on the ice.
“It is the Wings’ choice,” Cholowski acknowledged. “Wherever they send me, that’s where I’m going to go.”
It doesn’t help his cause that he struggled mightily during his first season of NCAA hockey, producing 1-11-12 numbers and a minus-nine rating in 36 games for St. Cloud State.
“Last season wasn’t the best year,” Cholowski said. “I think I have a little bit to prove for sure. I tried to bounce back at prospects tournament, which I think I did pretty well, and then keep it rolling at main camp.”
Now Cholowski needs to bring it into the preseason and show the Wings that he’ll be ready for prime time sooner than they think.
Travel Roster
The players who are making the journey to Boston for Tuesday’s preseason opener:
Goal:
Petr Mrazek
Jared Coreau
Defense Pairs:
Cholowski-Dylan McIlrath
Brian Lashoff-Vili Saarijarvi
Lubor Sulak-Nick Jensen
Pat McCarron
Forward Lines:
Tyler Bertuzzi-Riley Sheahan-Luke Glendening
Anthony Mantha-Dylan Larkin-P.A. Parenteau
Turner Elson-Michael Rasmussen-Martin Frk
Dominik Shine-Dominic Turgeon-Luke Witkowski
Zach Nastasiuk
Mrazek is expected to get the start in goal.
Roster Trimmed
As the Wings broke camp to begin their slate of NHL preseason games, they reduced their roster by 13.
Returned to their junior clubs were forwards Zach Gallant (Peterborough, OHL), Brady Gilmour (Saginaw, OHL) and Lane Zablocki ( , WHL) and defensemen Cole Fraser (Peterborough, OHL), Jordan Sambrook (Erie, OHL) and Reilly Webb (Hamilton, OHL).
Forwards Oliver Castleman, Isaac Johnson, Sean Josling and Luke Kutkevicius, defensemen Marcus Crawford and Evan Fiala and goaltender Corbin Boes were released from their amateur tryouts.
The moves leave the Wings with 61 players on their preseason roster: 34 forwards, 20 defensemen and seven goaltenders.
Follow me on Twitter @asktheduffer
Detroit Red Wings Blogger • 
Join the Discussion:
»