Notes: Zadina, Rasmussen and Smith reunited for prospect tournament

TRAVERSE CITY -- They dazzled fans as members of Team Howe when they sparked a comeback victory over Team Lindsay in the development camp scrimmage and now they're back for the Detroit Red Wings in the prospect tournament.
They are Filip Zadina, the Wings' first-round pick, sixth overall, in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft; Michael Rasmussen, the Wings' first-round pick, ninth overall, in the 2017 draft; and Givani Smith, the Wings' second-round pick, 46th overall, in the 2016 draft.

Zadina is 6-feet, 196 pounds, with speed, skill and a spectacular finish around the net.
Rasmussen is 6-foot-6, 221 pounds, with fantastic hand-eye coordination and a willingness to park in front of the net.

Smith is 6-foot-2, 206 pounds, with the ability to take whatever spot he wants on the ice and a relentlessness in his game.
"You go to the draft and you see their names called and you meet these kids a little bit and you see highlights. You're excited," Grand Rapids coach Ben Simon said. "It's great for the organization, you see how talented they are. It's a great glimmer of hope with what's coming up the pipeline for Detroit. To be able to kind of get these guys for a week and see what they can do and get them off on the right foot so they're going to camp on a positive is huge. These kids are excited. This is their first camp, their first opportunity to really leave a good impression or start with a good impression off Day 1 so it is exciting."
There are high expectations for all three forwards, but especially for Zadina and Rasmussen, whom many expect to make the Red Wings out of camp this fall.
"Obviously I'm so excited to play this tournament here in Traverse City, especially with these players like Michael and Smitty," Zadina said after the morning skate at Centre Ice Arena. "It's going to be a huge tournament for us. We want to play as a team, score some goals and just have fun in this tournament."
Vili Saarijarvi has played in the prospect tournament before and he believes those three give the Wings an excellent chance to be playing in Tuesday night's championship game.
"I think they're both great players and it's fun to watch both of them on the ice," Saarijarvi said of Zadina and Rasmussen. "They both have great speed, their skill, they can make some unbelievable plays. It's a lot of fun to watch those two guys play together and then they have Givani on the wing there too, big body. I'm sure he's going to make some room for those two boys and they're going to have a lot of fun out there as a line. I'm excited for those guys and for me to watch those guys."
Rasmussen spent most of July in Detroit training with many of the current Wings and some of the prospects.
Although he is well aware of the opportunity that lies before him, he's not looking too far ahead.
"I'm focusing on this tournament," Rasmussen said. "Day by day, whether it's a practice or this tournament or summer training, I just try to take it day by day and I'm definitely focusing on this tournament. We want to win here. That's our goal here."
CHOLOWSKI DETERMINED: The old adage says that actions speak louder than words.
For Dennis Cholowski, the Wings' first-round pick, 20th overall, in the 2016 draft, his actions these past two years have been an actual shout.
The 20-year-old defenseman spent the entire summer in a metro Detroit hotel just so he could train with some of the Wings.
"I went there for about a month last year and I really liked the training in Detroit at Barwis Methods," Cholowski said. "I thought it would benefit me a lot this year again and kind of show them I'm dedicated to do whatever I can to make it. So I was willing to do whatever."
That meant leaving his family back in British Columbia while he took aim at his goal of making the Red Wings.
"They miss me, I miss them," Cholowski said. "They came up and visited me a couple of times. It's a transition when you're this young, living in a hotel in Detroit by yourself. You have to cope with it and I think I did that pretty well so I'm happy."
Cholowski is also happy to be returning to the prospect tournament with some experience under his belt.
"Having all the new young players come in is always fun, getting to meet them and show them the ropes a little bit, having fun with them," Cholowski said. "The hockey is always really good hockey too so that's fun, being able to go out and compete with the other top prospects. Last year I had a lot of fun here and I'm looking to do that again."
Like Rasmussen, Cholowski is not thinking ahead to Wings training camp next week.
"Right now I'm focused on this tournament," Cholowski said. "When next week comes, that'll come and I'll be focused on that. Right now we want to win so I'm 100 percent focused on this."
GRAND RAPIDS IN THE HOUSE: Saarijarvi, the Wings' third-round pick, 73rd overall, in the 2015 draft, also spent some time in metro Detroit working out this past summer.
Although he will try to earn a spot in Detroit, Saarijarvi knows he's most likely headed back to Grand Rapids to play with the AHL's Griffins.
So this tournament, while not his first one, is important for him.
"I think it's a big opportunity for me," Saarijarvi said. "We have new coaches and they're going to be in Grand Rapids so it's going to give me my first impression for them. Obviously Benny being assistant coach in GR last couple years and last year for me so it'll be good for me to showcase what I can do and also the same for the other guys, too. I think it'll be fun."
In the morning skate, Saarijarvi was paired with Jared McIsaac, the Wings' second-pick, 36th overall, in the 2018 draft.
"I've been playing with McIsaac and told him a little bit what it's going to be like," Saarijarvi said. "He's a great player so I'm sure we're going to have a lot of fun out there. I'm excited for all of our team and for myself, it's been a good summer so I'm looking forward to this tournament."
For Simon, it is not his first prospect tournament overall but it is his first as the head coach of the Griffins.
"It is different but it's a good different. It's fun," Simon said. "Getting back in the saddle as a head coach and just kicking the rust off in general from being in summer mode, so to speak. It's fun. It's a challenge for me and there's always going to be an adjustment period when you go into a different job and a different position, for the players to adjust to me, for me to adjust with our staff together. So there will be some growing pains. But that's part of the fun, the journey kind of is the fun part."
Simon said he's going to let things play out naturally with the prospects but knows some of them will be with him in Grand Rapids this season.
"You got guys like Vili, guys like (Axel) Holmstrom, Smitty has been in Grand Rapids a little bit, Cholo a little bit, so for them it's important for them to get to know me a little bit and get off on the right foot," Simon said. "Good habits, good practice habits, and just leaving a good impression.
"They want to leave a good impression with the NHL team first and foremost, and then, throughout that process, if they're leaving a good impression with Detroit, it's obviously going to reflect well with me as well."