DETROIT - When the Detroit Red Wings coaching staff was implementing power play strategy in the off-season, pondering possible units and assessing personnel, Dennis Cholowski's name didn't surface.

"He's a better offensive player that I would have given him credit for coming into the year," coach Jeff Blashill said. "Part of that is the work he put in this summer. Part of that is his ability is better than I realized."

Cholowski has been better than anyone could have projected. The 20-year-old defenseman earned a job in training camp in a competition that wasn't close. Early in his rookie season, he is second on the team in average ice time (20:41), first among defensemen in points (eight) and leads all Red Wings in power-play points (six).

Through 15 games, the Red Wings rank ninth on the power play (12-of-46, 26.1 percent), much improved from 2017-18 (24th at 17.5 percent) and from the past two seasons combined (last at 16.3 percent).

Having Cholowski at the point on one of the units has been the biggest difference.

"He makes plays, and a big part of the power play is making big plays, finding ways," Blashill said. "The schemes are somewhat similar throughout the league and you got to be able to either have poise and draw people to you and make seam passes or get shots through and he's done a good job of that.

"He hasn't been perfect, but he's got good poise coming up the ice, he's got good poise in the zone."

The Red Wings (5-8-2) have won four of their past five games and host the New York Rangers (7-7-1), winners of four in a row, Friday at Little Caesars Arena (7:30 p.m., Fox Sports Detroit).

Following a strong final season of major junior hockey split between Prince George and Portland (WHL), many expected Cholowski to spend some time developing in the AHL with the Grand Rapids Griffins. He has made the rare jump from juniors to the NHL without a stop in the minors, and the Red Wings, despite their early season struggles, have been better because of it.

The word most used to describe Cholowski is poise.

"He sees the ice really well, he's got great composure, which helps on the PP for sure," Mike Green said. "And he shoots the puck really well, too. He moves across the line well. For a young guy he's got all the tools and he's done a great job stepping in."

Cholowski is alert and seems prepared to make a play at all times.

"You just have to be on your toes all the time," Cholowski said. "You can't relax at all. You have to move the puck quick. You have to move your feet. Any little hiccup is going to cost you."

Cholowski said he benefitted by playing a few games paired with Green.

"I'd say the biggest thing is his calmness, with the puck and without the puck," Cholowski said. "He never panics about anything. When he has it on his stick, whether a guy's right on him, he's always able to make the right play. I just try to soak up everything I can from him.

"One of the biggest things I try to have in my game is not panic about anything or make a play that's not necessary, just throw the puck away, or anything like that. Try to stay calm and poised with it."

Another significant difference in the power play is new assistant coach Dan Bylsma's approach of creating chaos by getting the puck on net and pouncing on rebounds.

"I think we're simplifying it," Dylan Larkin said. "More pucks to the net. Even on the entries, we're just sticking to one or two a game and we're not all over the place. We're running our routes and we're getting in the zone. We're spreading it out and then when we're in the zone, we're getting some pucks to the net and getting it to the slot and creating chaos. And then scoring some dirty goals."

Greed added, "The thing about the PP is (opponents) are fully committed to blocking shots. Unless you can create open space you're not going to get pucks through. There's that split-second where you can utilize that open space and get pucks to the net and that's sort of what we focused on."

Athanasiou, Nielsen expected back

Andreas Athanasiou (leg injury) and Frans Nielsen (concussion), each out the past four games, is expected to return Friday, Blashill said.

Larkin practiced Thursday after taking a day off to recover from a minor injury suffered on Tuesday. He'll be in the lineup.