Islanders Waive Dennis Cholowski; Pulock Set to Return on Sunday

The New York Islanders waived Dennis Cholowski on Thursday afternoon. Cholowski, 27, played 33 games this season, recording three goals and 10 points. The move had been widely anticipated in the wake of Scott Mayfield and Ryan Pulock’s return to practice. The Islanders must clear one roster spot to activate Pulock, so sending Cholowski down will do just that.

For a second straight day, Patrick Roy ran practice like a coach preparing to have Mayfield and Pulock in the lineup on Sunday afternoon. Pulock hasn’t played since January 25 against the Carolina Hurricanes and has missed seven games. Mayfield hasn’t played since February 1 and has missed four games.

Pulock has been wearing an orange non-contact jersey the last two sessions but shed it today and participated in every drill. The Islanders will activate Pulock officially at some point before Sunday.

Cholowski lost his place on the depth chart after the team acquired and signed Anthony DeAngelo, Scott Perunovich, and Adam Boqvist. Cholowksi played just 2:52 and only four shifts against the Minnesota Wild, sealing this as his inevitable fate with the Islanders.