The young defensemen looking to carve themselves out a spot on the back end for the Detroit Red Wings would do well to brush up on their penalty-killing skills.
“At the end of the day, we need our PK to be better,” Wings coach Jeff Blashill tld Mlive.com.
The Wings were 28th in the NHL last season on the PK at 77.1 percent. Every team that checked in at below 78 percent missed the playoffs.
As the likes of Madison Bowey and Dennis Cholowski, who will form the first defense pairing in Monday’s road preseason game against the New York Islanders, seek to etch their names into the roster, a stellar performance on the PK would go a long way to doing so.
In Bowey’s case, Blashill admitted that they’re still learning a lot about the big defender picked up at last season’s trade deadline from the Washington Capitals.
“I think if he can be a big 6-foot-2 defender that can break the puck out and is good on the penalty kill, we’ve got a spot for that,” Blashill said. “That’s what he’s working towards. I think the one area where he can keep being good at is winning stick battles, being strong on his stick and clearing it on the PK. If he can help us be a way better PK, that’s great.
“As you do that and then can add some offense without risk, then that’s a really good player. I think he’s had a good start to the preseason here. He’ll get a few more games in here and then we’ll see.”
Cholowski showed some offensive chops early last season but was lacking when it came to his acumen without the puck. He’s invested his summer in improving his game in that aspect. Cholowski worked a lot in the offseason on one-on-one battles and improving his skills at boxing out attackers in front of his own net.
“Just being more assertive and aggressive, especially in the D-zone, and making sure I win my battles, kill plays as fast as I can and make sure my gaps are good and then get the puck north as quick as I can,” Cholwoski explained. “They were preaching that a lot to me this summer and I tried to work on it and I feel like I’m doing a better job at it this year, so far.”
Just the fact that he’s got a season of NHL experience on his resume gives Cholowski a completely different perspective this fall.
“I think comfort’s the biggest thing,” he said. “It’s my second year so I’ve got a year under my belt now and I just feel a little more like I know what I’m doing, I guess you could say.
“I’m a little older now and just more comfortable out there.”
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