Cholowski, 21, has appeared in 29 games for Detroit in 2019-20 and is tied for second among the team's defensemen in points, showing eight points (2-6-8), including five points (1-4-5) on the power play to lead Red Wings defensemen and tie for fourth on the team overall. The second-year pro has also registered four penalty minutes, 14 hits, 27 blocked shots and 43 shots on goal while averaging 19:34 time on ice. In 2018-19, Cholowski made the Red Wings out of training camp and scored in his NHL debut on Oct. 4, 2018 vs. Columbus. He has totaled 24 points (9-15-24) and 20 penalty minutes in 81 NHL games over the last two seasons. The 6-foot-2, 197-pound blueliner has also appeared in 26 regular-season games for the Griffins since debuting in 2016-17, picking up 12 points (0-12-12) and 12 penalty minutes. Cholowski has also added two assists and two penalty minutes in six career AHL postseason games.
Originally selected by Detroit in the first round (20th overall) of the 2016 NHL Entry Draft, Cholowski played one season of college hockey and one of major junior after he was drafted before turning professional. In 2016-17, he logged 12 points (1-11-12) in 36 games at St. Cloud State University, before racking up 66 points (14-52-66) in 69 games between the Western Hockey League's Prince George Cougars and Portland Winterhawks during the 2017-18 campaign. A native of Langley, British Columbia, Cholowski won a gold medal with Canada West at the 2015 World Junior A Challenge. He spent parts of three seasons (2013-16) with the Chilliwack Chiefs in the British Columbia Hockey League before he was drafted, notching 67 points (16-51-67) and 20 penalty minutes in 105 regular-season games and adding 22 points (4-18-22) and four penalty minutes in 32 postseason games.
McIlrath, 27, has appeared in 16 games with Detroit this season and ranks among team leaders with 23 penalty minutes (2nd) and 48 hits (3rd) in 14:49 average ice time per game. He has also skated in 10 games with the Griffins in 2019-20, registering three points (0-3-3) and 15 penalty minutes. McIlrath has totaled 66 NHL appearances since making his NHL debut in 2013-14, totaling five points (3-2-5) and 121 penalty minutes with the New York Rangers, Florida Panthers and Red Wings. McIlrath has also played in 363 career AHL games with the Connecticut Whale, Hartford Wolf Pack, Springfield Thunderbirds and Griffins since 2010-11, registering 77 points (21-56-77), a plus-28 rating and 775 penalty minutes. The Winnipeg, Manitoba, native won a 2017 Calder Cup championship with the Griffins and has chipped in seven points (0-7-7), a plus-13 rating and 71 penalty minutes in 48 career AHL postseason games.
A former first-round pick (10th overall) in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft by the Rangers and was acquired in a trade by Detroit from Florida on March 1, 2017, McIlrath skated in 232 Western Hockey League games for the Moose Jaw Warriors prior to turning professional, posting 74 points (16-58-74) and 551 penalty minutes from 2008-12, adding seven assists and 48 penalty minutes in 27 postseason contests. He also skated in the Canadian Hockey League Top Prospects Game during the 2009-10 campaign.
