Kasper continues to impress after his rookie year
Each year Detroit Red Wings prospects are faced with an opportunity to take a job in the NHL by impressing the front office. Players like Carter Mazur are heading into this season looking to make that final step into the greatest hockey league in the world. Last year, Marco Kasper turned a call up from the Grand Rapids Griffins into a place in Detroit’s top six and became part of the team’s core going forward.
Kasper had impressed in training camp, and many fans believed it should have been enough to secure a spot with the team. He was ultimately assigned to Grand Rapids, but a callup early in the year was all the Eight overall pick from 2022 needed. The Austrian centerman spent 76 games in Detroit, and centered the teams most competitive line in the second half of the season.
The 6’1” left shooting forward shows tenacity, poise, and an impressive amount of skill in his game. A recent clip of his “Michigan” goal has gone viral, further endearing Kasper to the Red Wings fan base. For the team, the player and the fan base, there are high expectations for Marco Kasper’s sophomore season.
Kasper’s Freshman campaign
Upon arrival in Detroit, Kasper served as a winger and immediately added energy to the team on ice. However, it was after the coaching change in late December that Kasper found his rhythm. 17 of his 19 goals were scored after the New Year with Coach McLellan behind the bench.
Todd McLellan made many changes upon his arrival to Detroit in late December. The move making Kasper the center on a line with Patrick Kane and Alex Debrincatmay have been the most critical for the team moving forward. Kasper didn’t just hold down a place on that line, he thrived on it. Those three players became the most consistent threat night in and night out for Detroit.
That same line should have a chance to begin the upcoming season together. With a full year to play in that capacity, Kasper has a chance to further solidify himself as one of the team’s brightest stars. Kasper is finally brining a complementary center to the top six that captain Dylan Larkin has lacked during the rebuild.
What kind of ceiling does Kasper have?
There is no doubt that Dylan Larkin has tried to carry the Detroit Red Wings to a better place during the rebuild. No player in recent history has the passion and commitment to this team that Larkin has continually shown. Larkin has scored 30 or more goals for four straight seasons and has made it clear that he expects more out of the team both on the ice and in the front office.
Marco Kasper looks to be the star centerman of the future for the Red Wings. For far too long, the drop from the first line to the second has been exponentially bad. Attempts to fill the spot with Andrew Copp and JT Compher ended up falling short. Kasper found a way to take that spot when opportunity knocked, and his journey may see him go even further upward.
It’s hard to believe that Larkin has already played 734 games with his hometown franchise. The captain has faced daunting injuries and immense pressures and continued to face the task head on. Having Marco Kasper allows the team a more stable top six going into the year. While there is still a need for someone to fill in on the wing for Larkin’s line, those two lines are still the most stable they’ve been in years.
Kasper seems to be on a path to one day grab the mantle as the club’s top centerman. With two more years on his entry level contract, fans will likely see him proving that Detroit should lock his services in on a max term deal. This season’s success may well rely heavily on the growth and performance of #92.
