No surprise here, per the Grand Rapids Press’s Peter J. Wallner…
Defenseman Dennis Cholowski, the top pick in the 2016 draft (20th overall), is scheduled to report to Grand Rapids by the middle of next week, Ryan Martin, the Red Wings assistant general manager, said Saturday.
Whether he plays in the first-round series against Manitoba is still to be determined. Last year, after signing and leaving St. Cloud State, Cholowski arrived in time to play in the regular-season finale and then did not play in the Calder Cup playoffs.
Cholowski’s junior team, the Portland Winterhawks, were eliminated Friday from the WHL playoffs by Everett, which, interestingly, will next face the Tri-City Americans.
Tri-City is led by Michael Rasmussen, the Red Wings’ touted top pick last year. He has 24 points in eight playoff games – two sweeps.
Ramussen will join the Griffins depending on the timing of the playoffs.
And the Detroit News’s Ted Kulfan:
Defenseman Dennis Cholowski, the team’s 2016 first-round draft pick, will join the Grand Rapids Griffins this coming week after his junior team was eliminated in the Western Hockey League’s (WHL) playoffs.
Portland was eliminated Friday by Everett, the series lasted five games, ending Cholowski’s junior career.
In 12 playoff games, Cholowski had seven points (five goals, two assists).
For the regular season, split between Prince George and Portland, Chowlowski had 66 points (14 goals, 52 assists).
I guess its a weird dynamic to sit a guy that has scratch and clawed all year to get the team to this point….then you sit him for some kid.
But the pressure is on from some sort of ‘plan’ the big club has, and Cholo has to be part of that solution. Play 7 D, make him the 7th. First two games. If he is a disaster, then sure, sit.