Detroit Red Wings

Rehab of Red Wings Top Pick Kasper Progressing Well

Kasper already off crutches

Published

11 months ago

May 18, 2023

Bob Duff

Red Wings prospect Marco Kasper will be back on skates within a month.

Marco Kasper’s NHL debut for the Detroit Red Wings ended in rave reviews and with a broken kneecap. He suffered the injury while crashing knee first into the boards during a game at Toronto’s Scotiabank Arena.

Even though it was just a one-game audition, Kasper was leaving his veteran NHL teammates suitably impressed.

“Seeing Marco play that game and practice with us, it seems like there’s a lot of good players coming that would help us, help us a lot,” Red Wings defenseman Olli Maatta said.

Marco Kasper’s recovery from kneecap injury is going well. No need for crutches anymore and rehab is underway. Also, preparations to get high school diploma in sweden in early june. #LGRW https://t.co/nx6RKvbUGu

— IcehockeyGifs (@IcehockeyG) May 17, 2023

Reports out of Austria are delivering indications that Kasper’s rehab from his season-ending injury are also providing positive returns.

The 19-year-old center, the eighth selection of the 2022 NHL entry draft by Detroit, is already off crutches less than six weeks after suffering the injury as he progressively regains his health. Kasper is working out in Klagenfurt, Austria with many of the players from his old club.

“It’s cool to train hard with a few former teammates in the gym,” Kasper told kaernten.orf.at.

He’s reporting no pain from the injury, only stiffness in the movements of the leg as he recovers full use of his knee. Kasper is focusing on upper body workouts to build up his strength as he aims toward earning a spot with the Red Wings in training camp next fall. As his progression continues, projections are that Kasper will be back on skates within a month.

His only regret at the moment is that ha can’t be in Finland playing for Austria at the IIHF World Championship.

“It always makes me very proud when I can play for the national team and I would have liked to have been with the boys in Tampere again,” Kasper said.

High School Diploma Next Up For Kasper

Also on Kasper’s summer agenda is his original plan for the offseason. He’ll be completing his high school diploma in Sweden, where he’s been playing in the SHL for Rogle.

Kasper allows that his favorite subjects are language studies of German and Swedish. He must write four more exams prior to completing his matriculation examination on June 9.