The New Jersey Devils have stayed busy on the first day of NHL Free Agency. After re-signing Jake Allen to a five-year deal to keep him as their backup goalie, Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald made a myriad of depth moves to improve the edges of the roster. He signed Connor Brown to help with the bottom six, added Evgeni Dadonov to really improve secondary scoring, and they re-signed a player they acquired near the NHL Trade Deadline.
Cholowski was acquired from the New York Islanders in exchange for prospect Adam Beckman. It came during a flurry of moves by the Devils, who were holding onto a playoff spot amidst a ton of injuries.
The Devils announced on Tuesday that they re-signed Dennis Cholwski to a one-year deal worth $775,000. It's close to a league-minimum deal, but it's also a one-way deal. That means the Devils will pay Cholowski that full contract whether he's playing on the Devils or the Utica Comets.
Cholowski was thrust into the Devils' lineup last season after injuries forced Sheldon Keefe to make unfavorable lineup decisions. At different times, Luke Hughes, Jonas Siegenthaler, Dougie Hamilton, Brett Pesce, Brenden Dillon, and Johnny Kovacevic were injured and had to miss time last season. In the playoffs, there were games that the Devils had to play with five defensemen.
Dennis Cholowski should only be considered depth for New Jersey Devils
That is why Cholowski was pushed into the lineup for six regular season games and two playoff games. He did play an offensive style that, in theory, should help the Devils put points on the board. He also kept Carolina off the board when he was on the ice. It was only 17 minutes at 5v5, but giving up zero goals is better than the alternative.
This isn't going to be a signing that makes or breaks a season, but the Devils showed last season that they needed as much defensive depth as a team could afford. His contract can be buried in the AHL if the want to go that route, and then they can call upon Cholowski when needed.