PuckSleuth
7Not on an NHL roster · Defense · Shoots L
Dennis Cholowski
Age 28 · 6'2" · 210 lb · Born in Langley, CAN
Cap hit
$875K
0.8% of $104M cap
Term
2 yrs
Through 2027-28, then UFA
Clause
None
Surplus value
+$3.664M
vs. $4.539M market estimate
Contract details from our records; public announcement not yet matched
2025-26 regular season
GP
17
Goals
0
0.0% shooting
Assists
2
0 primary
Points
2
0.12 per game
TOI/GP
14:40
PP 0:07 · PK 0:05
Plus/minus
-6
Hits
3
Blocks 17
PIM
2
Game Score
+0.06
per game
Game log
Last 5 games · NHL API
| Game | G | A | SOG | HIT | BLK | TOI | PP | PK | FO | OZS% | GV | TK | +/- | GS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 11 @ DET · W 5-3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 14:49 | 0:00 | 0:00 | — | 67 | 0 | 1 | +1 | +0.82 |
| Apr 9 vs PIT · L 5-2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 17:40 | 0:00 | 0:00 | — | 100 | 3 | 0 | -2 | -0.36 |
| Dec 14 vs VAN · L 2-1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 14:51 | 0:00 | 0:00 | — | 50 | 0 | 0 | 0 | +0.14 |
| Dec 13 vs ANA · W 4-1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 13:03 | 0:00 | 0:00 | — | 50 | 1 | 0 | +1 | +0.27 |
| Dec 6 @ BOS · L 4-1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 13:29 | 0:00 | 0:00 | — | 0 | 1 | 0 | -1 | -0.18 |
GS = our Game Score (credit for everything he did; goals and assists count most). FO = faceoffs won-lost. OZS% = share of his 5v5 offensive and defensive zone faceoff starts that were in the offensive zone. GV/TK = giveaways/takeaways.
Advanced metrics
5v5 unless noted · 2025-26 · 243 min · percentile vs. NHL defensemen
5th percentile
4th percentile
1st percentile
12th percentile
4th percentile
29th percentile
4th percentile
9th percentile
40th percentile
22nd percentile
30th percentile
44th percentile
3rd percentile
45th percentile
xGF% is his team's share of 5v5 expected goals while he was on the ice, from our own expected goals model; HDCF% counts only high-danger chances (xG of 0.15 or more). IPP is the share of his team's 5v5 goals while he was on the ice that he scored or assisted on. Relative stats compare him with his team when he was off the ice. Goals above expected and ixG/60 use his own shots at all strengths. PDO and OZS% describe luck and deployment, so their bars are grey.
Play styleDefensive depth defenseman
Trait percentiles vs. NHL defensemen · 2025-26
Cholowski plays a limited role with modest ice time, focusing on defensive responsibilities and rush play rather than generating offense. He lacks speed and playmaking touch, making him a support player who needs sheltering on easier matchups.
- Shooting volume
- 14
- Playmaking
- 0
- Zone entries(est.)
- 77
- Forechecking
- 67
- Physicality
- 16
- Defensive impact
- 35
- Puck management
- 13
- Speed
- 3
Where he shoots from
Slot 0% · Mid-range 53% · Perimeter 47%(17 unblocked shots)
Strengths
- Excellent at initiating rush chances with a 77th percentile zone entry rate
- Solid forechecking activity at the 67th percentile keeps play in opponent's end
Watch-outs
- Among the slowest defensemen at just 3rd percentile in speed limits transition play
- Nearly non-existent playmaking at 0th percentile provides no offensive setup potential
Similar style: Zach Metsa (BUF), Nick Perbix (NSH)
Built from play-by-play, shift data, and NHL EDGE tracking. Zone entries is an estimate (rush chances while he is on the ice) until tracking data is added.
Career stats
From the NHL's player records
| Season | League | Team | GP | G | A | P | +/- | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012-13 (playoffs) | U16 Cup | BCMML Canucks 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2013-14 | CSSHL | Yale Academy | 17 | 1 | 15 | 16 | — | 8 |
| 2013-14 | Other | Yale Academy | 12 | 5 | 20 | 25 | — | 4 |
| 2013-14 | BCHL | Chilliwack | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 |
| 2013-14 (playoffs) | CSSHL | Yale Academy | 2 | 0 | 5 | 5 | — | 0 |
| 2014-15 | BCHL | Chilliwack | 55 | 4 | 23 | 27 | — | 4 |
| 2014-15 (playoffs) | BCHL | Chilliwack | 12 | 0 | 7 | 7 | — | 0 |
| 2015-16 | BCHL | Chilliwack Chiefs | 50 | 12 | 28 | 40 | +2 | 16 |
| 2015-16 | WJAC-19 | Canada West U19 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | — | 0 |
| 2015-16 (playoffs) | BCHL | Chilliwack Chiefs | 20 | 4 | 11 | 15 | 0 | 4 |
| 2016-17 | NCAA | St. Cloud State Univ. | 36 | 1 | 11 | 12 | -9 | 14 |
| 2016-17 | AHL | Grand Rapids Griffins | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | +1 | 0 |
| 2017-18 | WHL | Prince George Cougars | 37 | 13 | 26 | 39 | +9 | 14 |
| 2017-18 | WHL | Portland Winterhawks | 32 | 1 | 26 | 27 | +20 | 18 |
| 2017-18 (playoffs) | WHL | Portland Winterhawks | 12 | 5 | 2 | 7 | -9 | 6 |
| 2017-18 (playoffs) | AHL | Grand Rapids Griffins | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2018-19 | NHL | Detroit Red Wings | 52 | 7 | 9 | 16 | -20 | 16 |
| 2018-19 | AHL | Grand Rapids Griffins | 25 | 0 | 12 | 12 | 0 | 12 |
| 2018-19 (playoffs) | AHL | Grand Rapids Griffins | 5 | 0 | 2 | 2 | +1 | 2 |
| 2019-20 | NHL | Detroit Red Wings | 36 | 2 | 6 | 8 | -26 | 6 |
| 2019-20 | AHL | Grand Rapids Griffins | 30 | 3 | 10 | 13 | -15 | 8 |
| 2020-21 | NHL | Detroit Red Wings | 16 | 1 | 2 | 3 | -1 | 4 |
| 2020-21 | AHL | Grand Rapids Griffins | 13 | 3 | 7 | 10 | -5 | 6 |
| 2021-22 | NHL | Washington Capitals | 7 | 0 | 1 | 1 | -4 | 2 |
| 2021-22 | NHL | Seattle Kraken | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | +1 | 0 |
| 2021-22 | AHL | Charlotte Checkers | 31 | 3 | 15 | 18 | +8 | 8 |
| 2021-22 (playoffs) | AHL | Charlotte Checkers | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | -5 | 0 |
| 2022-23 | NHL | New York Islanders | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1 | 0 |
| 2022-23 | AHL | Bridgeport Islanders | 67 | 1 | 37 | 38 | -7 | 26 |
| 2023-24 | AHL | Bridgeport Islanders | 68 | 7 | 24 | 31 | -22 | 6 |
| 2024-25 | NHL | New York Islanders | 33 | 3 | 7 | 10 | +1 | 10 |
| 2024-25 | NHL | New Jersey Devils | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -4 | 0 |
| 2024-25 | AHL | Bridgeport Islanders | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -6 | 2 |
| 2024-25 (playoffs) | NHL | New Jersey Devils | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | +1 | 0 |
| 2025-26 | NHL | New Jersey Devils | 17 | 0 | 2 | 2 | -6 | 2 |
| 2025-26 | AHL | Utica Comets | 13 | 0 | 5 | 5 | -6 | 6 |
Every league he has played in, from the NHL's records, regular season and playoffs.
Latest news
Headlines from news outlets and team blogs
No news about him in the last 30 days.
Sentiment & chatter
Fans
—
Beat writers
—
Media
—
Fan, beat writer, and media scores, the 14-day trade chatter chart, and the latest mentions appear once sentiment scoring is switched on. Mentions are already being collected.
Recent Game Scores
Last 10 games · goals above average
Average -0.00 per game over these 10.
Where his Game Score comes from
+0.06 per game
2025-26 · 17 GP
Season total +1.0, or +0.06 per game.
- Scoring
- +1.0
- Shooting
- +0.9
- 5-on-5 goals
- -1.1
- Physical play
- +0.9
- Puck battles
- -0.7
- Penalties
- -0.2
Game Score gives credit for everything a player does in a game. Goals (1.0) and assists (0.7 primary, 0.5 secondary) count most; shots, blocks, hits, takeaways, penalties drawn, faceoff wins, killing penalties, and holding down the other team's chances add to it. Only mistakes subtract: goals against at 5-on-5, giveaways, penalties taken, faceoff losses, and allowing more chances than an average player would. A player who is there to defend or kill penalties is not marked down for not scoring. Goalies are measured by goals saved above expected.
Skating · NHL EDGE
2025-26, as of Oct 2
- Top speed
- 20.0 mph
- 7th pct
- 20+ mph bursts
- 0
- Hardest shot
- 88.2 mph
- 37th pct
- Distance
- 36.3 mi
- OZ time
- 42.1%
- 59th pct
- DZ time
- 39.5%
Age curve
At 28: 95% of peak
NHL defensemen · production index
At 28, defensemen typically produce 95% of their peak (age 24). His contract runs through age 29, when the typical level is 93%.
From 24 seasons of NHL results, adjusted for league scoring and save percentage in each era. Shaded bars are the seasons left on his contract.
Contract by season
2 seasons left
| Season | Team | Cap hit | % of cap |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 | NYR | $875K | 0.8% |
| 2027-28 | NYR | $875K | 0.8% |
UFA after 2027-28. $1.75M in cap hits left. % of cap uses each season's ceiling where the league has set one ($104M this season, $113.5M in 2027-28).