Dennis Cholowski

A significant malady to veteran defenseman Mike Green opened the door for Cholowski, whom the Red Wings nabbed with the 20th overall draft pick in 2016. Despite cracking the Opening Night roster and piling on seven points through the season's first month, Cholowski's confidence level wavered, and the left-shot defenseman was back in the AHL with Grand Rapids by mid-February. A waiver-exempt prospect bound by an entry-level contract typically faces long odds of logging a full season in the NHL, and Cholowski is probably not the exception, particularly with the Wings courting rugged blueliner Patrik Nemeth in free agency. However, the silver lining is that Detroit's largely been devoid of quality puck-moving defenseman in recent years and Cholowski did enough scoring as a rookie, banking seven goals, nine assists and nine power-play points, to qualify as an intriguing dynasty option.

The Red Wings took two forwards in the first round of the 2018 NHL Entry Draft. As surprising as that was given the team's need to fill crater-like holes on the blue line, there's reason to believe that Cholowski is on the verge of reaching hockey's highest level. The crisp-passing defenseman had the chance to at least check out the AHL scene with the Calder Cup-winning Griffins in 2016-17, and he'd end up with 66 points (14 goals, 52 assists) over 69 games between WHL Portland and the Prince George Cougars last season. Various scouts expressed concern about Cholowski scrawny figure upon seeing him drafted 20th overall in 2016, though he's been hard at work bulking up and now stands at 6-foot-1, 200 pounds. At this rate, it shouldn't be long before he's a familiar name across the fantasy hockey landscape.