Marco Kasper’s one-year transformation impresses Red Wings

Marco Kasper looked every bit the wide-eyed rookie trying to find his way competing against men in training camp and the preseason a year ago.

A stronger, more mature and experienced Kasper has looked more confident in this year's camp

"We were talking in the room yesterday, he doesn't even look like the same athlete as last year at this time in camp," Detroit Red Wings coach Derek Lalonde said. "He built some confidence from his growth in GR last year, and I think that playoff run was very valuable for him. He's got some attitude into camp this year, which is certainly a positive."

The Red Wings broke camp in Traverse City Sunday and start their eight-game preseason Wednesday in Chicago. Kasper, the two-way center selected eighth overall in 2022, will get plenty of looks. Lalonde wants him to pick up where he left off in the playoffs with Grand Rapids.

"His compete was really high at the time," Lalonde said. "Huge impact on the game, winning a lot of battles, played with energy, played with jam at a consistent level, which was pretty impressive. American Hockey League playoffs can be very heavy. A lot of older-type players, and he was the one with some jam and he was one making impacts in the game. You can see he's got some confidence the way he's handled himself in camp. So very excited to see how that translates into the preseason."

Kasper had a tough transition to the AHL (one goal, five assists in first 20 games) before getting more comfortable as the season progressed. He finished with 14 goals and 35 points in 71 regular-season games and four goals and seven points in nine playoff games.

At least 12 veterans are ahead of Kasper, 20, on the forward depth chart, so he likely will start the season with the Griffins. But a positive impression in the preseason, coupled with his performance in his second AHL season, can only help in his competition with the likes of fellow prospects Carter Mazur and Nate Danielson to be one of the first recalls.

"Just going to try to play my game and play with confidence, make my (case) that I know I'm capable of and just work as hard as you can, like I'm always doing, and just give my best," Kasper said.

Having bulked up a little while training back home in Austria will help.

"I'm always trying to get stronger in the gym, doing some heavy lifting, some conditioning as well, but just trying to become a man, if you want to say like that, and just gain some bulk as well," the 6-1, 197-pound Kasper said.

He also played some Olympic qualifying games, though Austria did not qualify.

"That was good to get some games in before coming over here, just worked really hard," Kasper said. "Practiced with the first team back in the Austrian League for a bit, so just getting in battles and getting in game speed. It was good for me."

He admits he wasn't as prepared for his first camp as he is this time around.

"The smaller ice ... it's really a big part for young guys coming over from Europe, and I had a tough time last year," Kasper said. "But we practiced really hard in Grand Rapids, played really good games, had a good team, and really helped me and all of us young guys to just get better. I have a lot more confidence this year."

He's also learning from watching the veterans.

"Guys like Patrick Kane, we grew up watching him and it's really cool to be on the same ice as him and just watch him, how does it, how much he skates, how well he handles the puck and stuff like that," Kasper said.