Kasper Infuses Detroit Forward Corps with Balance, Energy
Playing in his second NHL game Saturday afternoon, Detroit Red Wings forward Marco Kasper picked up his first career NHL point, but perhaps more significant than that assist was something coach Derek Lalonde alluded to after the game. When asked to assess Kasper's season debut after the game Saturday, Lalonde replied, "Loved it. Trust him in every situation. We were hoping he'd give us a little spark. I just like what it does for the balance of our lines. It gives us some flexibility."
In the featured video above, I discuss where exactly that sense of balance comes from with Kasper, and how he allows Lalonde to play around with some of his other options up front. That can mean adjusting the spots of some of his scorers like Patrick Kane, Vladimir Tarasenko, or Jonatan Berggren—moving them up and down the lineup for balance while still pairing them with players who can take advantage of their offensive gifts. It can also mean moving a player like Joe Veleno from center to the wing, allowing Veleno to play a faster and freer game.
Two of the most fundamental challenges for any young player are trust and consistency. Clearly, Kasper has his coach's trust, and while he will have to keep at it to prove his consistency, the way his 'hard skill' can change the composition of Detroit's entire forward corps, not just his line, is a great start when it comes to leaving an impact. Lots of young players are exciting; much fewer of them are positively impactful to winning. The early returns suggest that Kasper might just belong in the rare latter camp.
