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Capitals claim defenseman Dennis Cholowski from Seattle Kraken

By Ian Oland

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October 14, 2021 2:13 pm

The Washington Capitals made a surprise move on Thursday, claiming defenseman Dennis Cholowski off waivers from the expansion Seattle Kraken.

Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman was the first to report the news.

Cholowski is a 23-year-old, left-shooting rearguard that was a first-round pick by the Detroit Red Wings in 2016. The puck-moving defenseman has 27 points (10g, 17a) in 104 career games. Cholowski spent parts of three years in Detroit, where he saw his games played decrease every season (52, 36, 16).

Cholowski was cut from the Kraken due to a numbers game on their defense at the NHL level.

The addition of Cholowski currently gives the Capitals four left-handed shooting defensemen on the roster, including Dmitry Orlov, Martin Fehervary, and Matt Irwin. Trevor van Riemsdyk is currently playing on the left side of the team’s second pair but shoots right. The team is now carrying eight defensemen overall.

After announcing the claim, the Capitals sent forward Beck Malenstyn to the Hershey Bears, leaving the team one extra forward: Connor McMichael.

More from the Capitals:

Capitals Claim defenseman Dennis Cholowski

ARLINGTON, Va. – The Washington Capitals have claimed defenseman Dennis Cholowski off waivers from the Seattle Kraken and loaned forward Beck Malenstyn to the Hershey Bears (AHL), senior vice president and general manager Brian MacLellan announced today.

Cholowski, 23, was previously selected by Seattle in the 2021 NHL Expansion Draft from the Detroit Red Wings. Cholowski was selected by Detroit in the first round, 20thoverall, in the 2016 NHL Draft.

The 6’2″, 197-pound defenseman appeared in 16 games for Detroit last season, recording three points (1g, 2a).

In 104 career games with Detroit, the Langley, British Columbia, native has 27 points (10g, 17a).

In 69 career games in the AHL with the Grand Rapids Griffins, Cholowski has 35 points (6g, 29a), including 10 points (3g, 7a) in 13 games last season.

Malenstyn, 23, missed the 2020-21 season due to injury. In 120 career games with the Hershey Bears, the 6’3″, 200-pound forward has recorded 31 points (14g, 17a).

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