Notes: Bowey eager to hit the ice with Wings

DETROIT -- Madison Bowey was not seeking a trade from the defending Stanley Cup champion Washington Capitals, but after spending the last few days practicing with the Red Wings, the 23-year-old right-shot defenseman believes it was for the best.

"You never want to get traded. The team that drafted you, the team that kind of brought you up into the league, you want to try to stay with them as long as you can," Bowey said after Tuesday's optional morning skate at Little Caesars Arena. "But things weren't working out for me there personally, so I think coming here to a younger team that's on the rebuild, I think it's a great opportunity. I think just personally it's a great fit for myself and I can't wait to get started here and play these next 20 games."

Drafted by the Caps in the second round, 53rd overall, in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft, the 6-foot-2, 198-pound Bowey has appeared in 84 NHL games over the last two seasons, accumulating 18 points (1-17-18), 62 penalty minutes, is even, with an average ice time of 13:44.
His lone NHL goal was a game-winner, coming on Dec. 29 at Ottawa in Washington's 3-2 victory over the Senators.
Bowey will make his Wings debut Tuesday against Montreal and has been paired with Trevor Daley in practice.

"I practiced with him (Daley), so I think that's who I'm going be paired with and (I'm) hoping to have a great game," Bowey said. "He's (Daley) been a big key in contributing and helping me out. All of the guys have been great, from Nik (Nik Kronwall) to Greenie (Mike Green). I think everyone here has been really kind of good at showing me around, making me get as comfortable as quick as I can. I'm looking forward to it."
Wings coach Jeff Blashill confirmed Bowey and Daley will be a defensive pair and he wants the young blueliner to concentrate on the defensive aspect of his game.

"I don't have a huge expectation level in the sense that I haven't watched him play tons," Blashill said about Bowey. "I've watched some and have an idea. But in the end, we got to see how he fits in with us and I'm just going to watch a bunch and see how he plays and by a bunch I mean a bunch of games, not a bunch of shifts.
"He skates like an NHL player, he passes like an NHL player. He's got an NHL size body. He's got an NHL skill-set. Now, does he on a consistent basis make more good plays than bad? That's the stuff you don't know until you're in game situations and guys have to react. We'll see.
"As I've said lots, I judge all these players on how many positives vs. how many negatives. What I've talked to him about is making sure that he's a great defender first. That's something our team needs to be better at. If you compare our team and Montreal, our goals for aren't that much different, our goals against are too far apart. We got to make sure we're better in that area.
"I think most players as they come to the league earn minutes by playing great defense. They earn trust, which earns more minutes, and then you start to produce. So, I want to make sure he focuses on being a great defender."
Bowey has expressed appreciation for the way he's been accepted in the room and how the Wings coaching staff has made sure he's aware of Detroit's on-ice process and the Wings' style of play.
"The coaching staff has done a great job of working me in and giving (me) a solid system as quick as possible," Bowey said. "It's going to take some time but I definitely feel comfortable here going into tonight. I'm definitely learning a lot every day and I just keep wanting to build and improving here."

ZADINA VERSUS CANADIENS: Filip Zadina will likely be feeling a little more comfortable as he plays in his second NHL game when the Wings host the Canadiens Tuesday night.
"I think and I know it's going to be better than the first game," Zadina said. "Especially I just want to do my best on the ice and help my players to have a good game and we'll see what's going to happen with the game."
In his first game Sunday against the San Jose Sharks, Zadina had one shot, one hit and was minus-1 in playing 10:38.
That ice time is likely to increase after Monday's trade of Gustav Nyquist to the San Jose Sharks.
During Monday's practice, Zadina skated on a line with center Andreas Athanasiou and Tyler Bertuzzi.
"It's awesome," Zadina said. "I'm so glad I can play with them and show them a little bit more O-zone time that we probably had last night. They're pretty good players and I'll try my best to help them. Hopefully we can score or something."
It's kind of interesting that during his nine-game stint with the Wings, Zadina gets to face Montreal.
Many mock drafts had the Canadiens taking Zadina third overall but they opted to go with Jesperi Kotkaniemi.
Zadina said he met Kotkaniemi at the draft but hasn't really spoken to him.
Kotkaniemi has played in all 63 of Montreal's games this season and has 11 goals, 19 assists and is plus-5, ranking him sixth among rookies in scoring.
At the draft in Dallas, Zadina said he would make the teams that passed on him, like Ottawa and Montreal, pay as he would "fill their nets with pucks."
Now that the day has arrived, is Zadina worried the Canadiens will try to bring up those comments when they're on the ice?
"I'm a rookie so probably they don't need to do that," Zadina said. "If they will do that it means something for me. I don't think it's going to count in this game. We'll see."
CANADIENS SITTING PRETTY: Although they have lost their last two games, 6-3 at Toronto on Saturday and 2-1 at New Jersey Monday night, the Canadiens are still in a good spot.
With 73 points, the Canadiens are currently in the first wild-card position, one point ahead of the Carolina Hurricanes and Pittsburgh Penguins.
The Canadiens have 188 goals for to the Wings' 177 but they have just 185 goals against compared to the Wings' 212.
"I played against them once this season, so obviously they're a very fast team, a lot like us I think," Bowey said. "They have young guys that can really move and like to play with skill. It should be a great test for myself and for the team. I think it's a great game to kind of hop into and play your first one. It should go pretty well here. I know the guys have done a great job of helping me through these last few days. I'm looking forward to it. I'm very excited."
Zadina is also looking forward to it.
"I know they are a pretty good team," Zadina said. "They have pretty good forward and special D. They're a pretty good team, they're playing well. Now it's up to us to show them that Detroit is playing good hockey, too. We want to beat them 100 percent, like we want to beat every single team in the NHL. I'm so excited."
HOWARD BACK IN, ERICSSON OUT: Goaltender Jimmy Howard, who missed the last two games due to illness, was the first goalie off the ice after Tuesday's optional morning skate.

In 16 career games against the Canadiens, Howard is 4-9-2 with a 3.78 goals-against average and .865 save percentage.
With Bowey drawing into the lineup, Blashill said Jonathan Ericsson will sit.
Blashill said Luke Witkowski will play at forward. It will be Witkowski's first game since Feb. 2 at Ottawa.