DETROIT – Jimmy Howard and the Detroit Red Wing are in store for a season that will be busier than usual.

Especially in the next six months.

"We've got a lot going on, don't we?" the Red Wings veteran goaltender said. "Winter Classic. A lot of guys here are trying for Olympic spots. 'HBO 24-7.' It's going to be pretty hectic around here."

Yes, it is.

The Olympic preparation has already begun for Howard even though he's still almost two weeks away from hitting the ice for training camp.

Howard was at Team USA's Olympic orientation camp last week along with teammates Justin Abdelkader and Danny DeKeyser. They're among 48 players hoping to represent the United States at the Winter Olympic Games in February at Sochi, Russia.

Detroit Red Wings goaltender Jimmy Howard played for Team USA in the 2012 World Championships.

"A lot of video, a lot of systems and a lot of media," is the way Howard summed up the orientation camp. "That was basically it."

Now, Howard is back in Detroit skating informally with teammates at Joe Louis Arena in preparation for the upcoming season and the Red Wings' move to the Eastern Conference.

The Red Wings are joining the Atlantic Division, which will include Original Six rivals Montreal, Toronto and Boston as well as Buffalo, Florida, Ottawa and Tampa Bay.

"It's a little bit of a transition," Howard admitted. "You know who the stars are. New conference, there's going to definitely be a transition of learning everyone's tendency, especially the role guys. Learning teams, how they play.

"Having (Daniel Alfredsson) around and some of the other guys who have played in the East is really good."

Alfredsson, formerly of the Ottawa Senators, signed with the Red Wings as a free agent in July along with fellow forward Stephen Weiss, who is also familiar with the Eastern Conference after playing his entire career with the Florida Panthers.

Alfredsson is one of at least 11 Red Wings who could represent their countries in the Olympics.

Alfredsson, Henrik Zetterberg, Niklas Kronwall, Johan Franzen and Jonathan Ericsson could end up playing for Sweden in Sochi; Pavel Datsyuk is a lock to represent host Russia; Jakub Kindl is a good candidate to play for the Czech Republic; and Tomas Tatar could play for Slovakia.

Mike Babcock has already been named Canada's head coach after leading the Canadians to the 2010 gold medal in Vancouver.

Howard, who is entering his fifth season as the Red Wings No. 1 netminder, will likely battle New Jersey's Cory Schneider for the Americans' third goaltending spot behind Jonathan Quick of the Los Angeles Kings and Buffalo's Ryan Miller, Team USA's starter in 2010.

Howard will likely need to get off to a good start this season to make the American team.

"If you just go out there and take care of business for your own team, you make it tough on the advisory staff," said Howard, who had a 21-13-7 record, 2.13 goals-against average and .923 save percentage last season before leading the Red Wing to a near-upset of Stanley Cup champ Chicago in the playoffs.

"Every goalie who could possibly take those three positions are top-notch goalies. I think it's going to be very tough to pick the three. It's going to be whoever is playing their best through November and December pretty much.

"Try to get off to a great start and maintain it and hopefully you'll get the opportunity to go."

Making the Olympic team would fulfill a lifelong dream for Howard, who has already represented the United States on the international stage.

He was in the U.S. National Development program in 2001-02, played in the World Junior Challenge the following season and suited up for the Americans in last year's World Championships in Europe.

"I remember my first time watching the Olympics was (1992)," said Howard, 29. "Ray LeBlanc was playing in net. It's always been a dream to play on the Olympic team.

"Getting my first taste with being part of the under-18 program and wearing my jersey every single day, you come to the realization how much of an honor and how special it really is."

Then there's the Winter Classic Jan. 1 against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, where a world record crowd of 115,000 is expected to be on hand. The Red Wings will also be the subject of HBO's popular "24/7" program leading up to the game.

Add it all up and Howard is expecting perhaps the most exciting season of his career.

"I think it will be," he said. "It's one of those things where you'll be able to look back and it will be pretty neat."

The Red Wings begin training camp Sept. 12 in Traverse City, their first preseason game is Sept. 16 at Pittsburgh and they open the regular season Oct. 2 against the Buffalo Sabres at Joe Louis Arena.