When William Wallinder signed his three-year, entry-level contract that would begin during the 2023-24 season and an amateur tryout agreement with the Grand Rapids Griffins for the rest of the season, many fans wondered if his Rogle teammate and top prospect Marco Kasper would also be heading stateside.
Following their elimination, Rogle announced that Marco Kasper would join the Red Wings organization for the rest of the season. On Thursday night, the Detroit Red Wings announced they had recalled Kasper.
It was reported by Red Wings beat writer Helene St. James on Friday that Kasper would be joining the team’s flight to Winnipeg.
From his call-up date (March 31st), the Red Wings have eight remaining games in the 2022-23 season.
The eighth overall pick from the 2022 NHL Entry Draft is coming off of an impressive campaign in Sweden. After playing the wing for the majority of his draft season, Kasper jumped into a top-six center role and never looked back.
In 52 SHL appearances, Kasper scored eight goals and 15 assists, which ranked fourth among U21 skaters in the entire league. Kasper also added four goals and five assists in ten games in the Champions Hockey League.
With the season he just had, there is already a path for Kasper to earn a spot on the opening night roster at just 19 years old. With that in mind, it would be beneficial for Kasper to see NHL games this season.
While the adjustment from the European to the NHL ice sheet can be jarring for some players, having a taste would be a good measuring stick for Kasper heading into next season. With many injuries up front over the past month, Detroit has the space to slot him in and give him plenty of ice time.
