TRAVERSE CITY — When the Detroit Red Wings took Dennis Cholowski with the 20th selection in the NHL draft last month, they caught criticism from hockey analysts who called the pick a reach. Cholowski, who played for the Chilliwack Chiefs in the British Columbia Hockey League last winter, is an undersized defenseman (6-feet-1 and 176 pounds).
The rookie, making his Wings debut during the team's development camp Wednesday at Center Ice Arena, said he has heard the criticism. And he knows that there is only one way for him to handle it: daily improvement.
"Just going out there and playing like the Red Wings took me for a reason," he said.