Notes: Reality sets in on first day of training camp

TRAVERSE CITY -- As the news of captain Henrik Zetterberg's future began to circulate on the first day of training camp, a pall of sadness could be felt inside Centre Ice Arena.
But on the ice, the players were focused on a grueling practice and scrimmage as the work began to determine who makes the roster of the 2018-19 Detroit Red Wings.

For the last few months, Detroit's brass has let it be known there will be roster spots available and from the competition on the ice, it appears the players have taken the message to heart.
This Red Wings training camp is going to be one of the most competitive in recent memory as several young players embrace the very real opportunity of playing in Detroit.
HICKETTS UP FOR THE CHALLENGE: Throughout his hockey career, Detroit defensive prospect Joe Hicketts has always faced his critics head on.
At 5-foot-8, 180-pounds, the Kamloops, British Columbia, native has had to fight through the stigma of being too small to have a legitimate shot to make it to the NHL.
He has answered each challenge and is now on the brink of achieving his dream of playing in the best hockey league in the world.
"It's basically the same every year, come in and earn a job," Hicketts said when asked about his mindset heading into camp. "This year there is that chance, last year you want to make an impression, but realistically, I was prepared with the contract situation and everything else going on that it was probably be another year in Grand Rapids.
"But this year they've got spots open, they're talking about getting young with guys earning jobs and I'm here with that in mind, it's to earn a job and prove I can play a full 82-game schedule in the National Hockey League."

Hicketts has impressed Detroit's staff with his upbeat attitude and fearlessness on the ice. His easygoing personality has endeared him to his teammates.
"It's going to be exciting times, there's a lot of competition, but I think I play my best hockey when the competitive nature is high, like I said, I'm excited to be here, excited to get going," Hicketts said. "I had a good summer off the ice working out and also on the ice. I got some power skating in and worked on some skills to have it all kind of culminate with training camp here starting now, today."
Last season, Hicketts had a five-game audition with the Wings where he didn't score a goal but had three assists and ended up as the Wings leader in plus/minus, finishing plus-5.
He also had the opportunity to play with Zetterberg, a memory he will not soon forget.
"Zetterberg was an awesome guy, he was the first guy when you walked in the room when you're being called up or a junior guy, he was the first one to say, "Hi" and ask how you're doing," Hicketts said. "So he's the ultimate professional that way. He was brought up with the likes of a (Nick) Lidstrom, maybe even an (Steve) Yzerman for a bit there. He was surrounded by great leaders and his character, it showed through that he really took it to heart and he became not only one the best leaders on the team, but one of the best leaders in the National Hockey League and that's a credit to him."
RASMUSSEN'S JOURNEY BEGINS: Michael Rasmussen may be a man of few words, but he's well aware of the task ahead of him during training camp.
"I just try to focus on myself and do my best with what I can do. Just focus one day at a time, one practice at a time and get better every day out there," Rasmussen said. "I'm trying not to think about that too much (making the team). Obviously, it's in my head a little bit but I'm just trying to, like I said, get better every day.
"It was good, practice was good. It was a tough practice. Good to see some of the guys out there and the scrimmage was a little bit one-sided (his team lost 5-1), so we got to be a little bit better there but overall it was a good day."
Growing up in British Columbia as a fan of the Vancouver Canucks, Rasmussen has vivid memories of Zetterberg and the Wings playing against the Canucks.
"For sure, I was definitely aware of him. They (the Wings) were in the Western Conference, I don't know when they switched, but I would always go to games and see him play and see how great he was," Rasmussen recalled. "They definitely played the Canucks lots and I always watched that so lots of cool memories of him for sure.
"I was around him a little bit last preseason, last camp but obviously that was a big dream for me to play with a guy like that. But I don't have necessarily one memory. I think just how he handles himself with all you guys or all the young guys. For me last year, he would come up to me and say hello. For him to do that to me, it's a pretty cool thing and for any young guy like that. It says a lot about him."
BERNIER SET TO PUSH HOWARD: Detroit goalie Jonathan Bernier understands the role of a goaltending duo in the NHL.
"I'm pushing every day. That's my job and that's Howie's (Jimmy Howard) job to push each other and to get this team better and win some games, so that's my mindset going in," Bernier told reporters after his first full practice as a Red Wing. "He seems like a pretty laid-back guy and he's enjoying being at the rink every day and that's fun to have around, but we're here for a job and we're going to push each other like I mentioned, but in the way of a healthy competition."

After a solid season with Colorado last year, which included 19 wins, a 2.85 goals-against average, a .913 save percentage and two shutouts in 37 games, Bernier chose to sign as a free agent with the Wings because he felt Detroit was on the cusp of becoming a special team.
Even with the loss of Zetterberg, he still has a positive vibe about the Red Wings.
"When I signed in Colorado, everyone was like, 'Ah, I don't know,' but I thought what I saw on paper of what they had last year, it made me want to go to Colorado and the same with this team, too," Bernier said. "Losing Z, you can't replace a guy like that, but I do think we have a great team. Now we need guys to step up and play more minutes."
Bernier was asked about facing Zetterberg and he smiled.
"It was tough (laughs) being a goalie. I think he's obviously a Hall of Famer. His passion for the game, his work ethic," Bernier said. "Since I've been here, the only thing I hear was how great he was in the room and we're definitely going to miss that."
OTHER INJURY NEWS: While most of the news was about Zetterberg, there were some other injury updates.
General manager Ken Holland said defenseman Jared McIsaac, who suffered a sprained shoulder in the third game of the prospect tournament, will miss 3-4 weeks and will return to his junior team, the Halifax Mooseheads. He should be ready to play in a month.
Defenseman Mike Green, who underwent surgery in April on his cervical spine, has been cleared for contact and will play in two or three games at the end of the preseason.
Although he is not injured, forward Justin Abdelkader is not with the team in camp as his wife, Julie, is at the hospital and is ready to deliver the couple's first child soon.
After a highly competitive first day of practice, not everyone came through completely unscathed.
"We had a couple guys leave the ice -- Marty Frk and Joe Veleno both left the ice, didn't finish practice," coach Jeff Blashill said. "So, we'll see where they're at come tomorrow morning. I haven't talked to our trainers other than that, so I don't know any more information. It was nothing major, but you just never know. Obviously, it's the time of year where there can be some little nagging stuff. The one thing we don't want to do is we don't want a little nagging thing to then turn into a long-term thing, so we just got to be careful that way."