The son of longtime NHL defenseman Craig Wolanin went directly from the University of North Dakota to the Ottawa Senators in 2017-18, playing in 10 NHL games and finishing with three points (one goal, two assists). He made his NHL debut on March 22, 2018, in a 6-2 loss to the Edmonton Oilers, and scored his first goal 11 days later in a 6-5 loss to the Winnipeg Jets.

In 2018-19 Wolanin played in 30 games for the Senators with four goals and eight assists. He also played in 40 games for Belleville in the American Hockey League and made the 2019 AHL All-Star Game. He also played in six games for the United States at the 2019 World Hockey Championship in Slovakia.

The Senators selected Wolanin, a more offensive-minded defenseman than his father, in the fourth round (No. 107) in the 2015 NHL Draft.

Wolanin scored 35 points (12 goals, 23 assists) in 40 games during the 2017-18 season to lead North Dakota in scoring. He made the National Collegiate Hockey Conference Second All-Star Team. In 2015-16, Wolanin had 15 points (four goals, 11 assists) to help North Dakota win the NCAA championship. He finished with 72 points (22 goals, 50 assists) in three seasons at North Dakota before turning pro.

Before enrolling at North Dakota, Wolanin spent three seasons in the United States Hockey League. He was named to the USHL Second All-Star Team in 2014-15 after finishing with 41 points (14 goals, 27 assists) in 56 games for Muskegon.

Wolanin, who was born in Quebec City while his father played for the Quebec Nordiques, holds dual citizenship in the United States and Canada. Craig Wolanin played in 695 NHL games as a defenseman with the New Jersey Devils, Nordiques, Colorado Avalanche, Tampa Bay Lightning and Toronto Maple Leafs. He won the Stanley Cup with the Avalanche in 1996.