DETROIT – Marco Kasper has played in two NHL games 18 months apart and hasn’t looked overwhelmed or out of place in either one, helping the Detroit Red Wings win both.
It’s a small sample size, but his play in Saturday’s 5-2 victory in Nashville coupled with his performance in training camp and the preseason shows the organization’s top pick in 2022 is ready for a full-time role in the NHL.
The Red Wings likely will decide soon whether to keep Kasper or reassign him to the Grand Rapids Griffins, if they haven’t already. He was recalled Friday under emergency conditions due to Tyler Motte’s upper-body injury which left the team with only 11 healthy forwards.
Kasper logged 15:15, including 1:30 on the power play, picked up his first career point by assisting on Vladimir Tarasenko’s goal, recorded three hits and had a plus-2 rating. He took a beating in the face-off circle, losing 9-of-13 draws, but that’s to be expected of an inexperienced 20-year-old.
“Great game,” coach Derek Lalonde told Bally Sports Detroit. “I put (Kasper) in every situation, really comfortable with him. I like what it does to our lines, it balances them out really well. We were hoping he’d give us a little spark and I think it did.”
Kasper told Bally’s: “It was a great game from us, really good team effort. It was fun to contribute to it. Just trying to do my best out there.”
Kasper centered a line with Michael Rasmussen and Jonatan Berggren.
“I’m getting out there and getting involved -- on the forecheck, hitting guys, backcheck, stuff like that,” Kasper said. “I think it was a good game. Great team effort and good win.”
Andrew Copp, who scored two goals including the game-winner, said of Kasper: “He plays with a lot of pace and plays with a lot of grit and made a few little plays here and there. He’s going to be a good player for a long time. Got his first game out of the way two years ago when he got injured, but you can see it’s all there.”
Kasper figures to be in the lineup Tuesday when the Red Wings (2-3-0) visit the New York Islanders (7:45 p.m., FanDuel Sports Detroit).
Latest Red Wings news:
- Patrick Kane’s clutch power-play goal lifts Red Wings to third win in row
- Red Wings stress need to get two goalies in a groove
- How to watch the New Jersey Devils vs. Detroit Red Wings - NHL (10/24/24) | Channel, stream, preview
- Simon Edvinsson‘s confidence grows as Red Wings’ role expands
- Former Griffins star Michel Picard to be inducted into AHL Hall of Fame