Detroit Red Wings
Former Swedish pro: Kasper will be playing for Red Wings next season
Kasper is playing top-line minutes for Rogle in the SHL
Marco Kasper playing for the Detroit Red Wings next season? A prominent Swedish hockey journalist and a seasoned ex-pro is of the belief that it’s already a done deal.
Sanny Lidstrom writes for Expressen.se and works as an analyst on SHL broadcasts for C More, the Swedish network carrying the games. He was also a 15-season pro in both Europe and North America. A fourth-round draft pick of the Colorado Avalanche, Lindstrom spent parts of three seasons in the AHL. He suited up for Sweden in the 2000 World Juniors alongside the Sedin twins.
3-on-3 OT sequence; William Wallinder defends, then joins the offensive rush. Marco Kasper comes in from the bench and gets a great chance to win the game.
Rögle later won after shootout. #LGRW pic.twitter.com/3gjTR1KieY— IcehockeyGifs (@IcehockeyG) January 14, 2023
In other words, his assessments carry a little bit more gravitas than the average hockey journalist. And Lindstrom’s advice to Swedish hockey fans is that they should enjoy watching Kasper play this season, because they won’t be seeing him next season.
“Rögle’s Marco Kasper goes from strength to strength,” Lindstrom wrote. “Take care and enjoy.
“Next year, Kasper will play in the NHL.”
On the weekend, Kasper was producing 1-2-3 numbers as Rögle beat Oskarshamn 5-4. The center who was made the eighth overall selection of the 2022 NHL entry draft by the Red Wings was also winning 63.16% of his faceoffs. As well, Kasper was skating a career-high 21:39, the most ice time of any Rögle forward. Kasper is showing 6-12-18 totals through 34 games.
Curiously, those are exactly the same totals that current Red Wings forward Lucas Raymond was posting in 34 games for Frolunda in 2020-21, the season prior to cracking the Detroit roster.
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A physical stay-at-home defenseman during his playing days, Lindstrom is also expressing a fondness for the style of game being played along the blue line by William Wallinder. A Detroit 2020 second-round pick (32nd overall), Wallinder is also filling a starring role for Rögle. He’s playing big minutes against the opposition’s top players, all while powering the offense with a team-leading 18 assists.
“William Wallinder has taken on a gigantic responsibility in Rögle and is the player who has been matched most diligently in the SHL,” Lindstrom said. “[He] behaves maturely and calmly on the ice and has developed into a really good defender who takes responsibility defensively, as well as driving Rögle’s offense from the back end.
Wallinder is third on Rögle ins scoring with 23 points. He was skating a team-high 25:59 in the win over Oskarshamn.
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Good news we need to hear. There must be help coming to keep any hope alive. Web just lost to the F’ing Yotes in a Pee Wees rink
He may be on the Wings next year but I would not rush him if he needs a little time in GR. Or the team needs the spot to not lose an asset. This team is not going deep next year or anything. Still would be good to see him make it and do well. Looking forward to this one.
A couple of months for both Wallinder and Kasper – then get them into the ‘bigs’. He’ll – they cannot do any worse than 1/2 of the present roster.,
Kasper is physically ready for the NHL and already plays a North American style of hockey. I sure wouldn’t bet against him.
Kasper should make the Wings out of camp. He checks all the right boxes at #1-2 center. Wallinder has similar upside to last year’s D prospects Edvinsson and Johansson. Those two have yet to earn starting spots on the Wings roster so it seems Wallinder won’t either. Look for Neiderbach to be in camp. He hasn’t impressed in Sweden this season but he might surprise on North American ice.