Former Swedish pro: Kasper will be playing for Red Wings next season

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.

Red Wings Prospects Kasper, Wallinder Turning Heads

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.

[bet-promo id=”4002″ ]

“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.