Red Wings Kasper a Ghost of His Former Self

In a nutshell, this was Marco Kasper’s night for the Detroit Red Wings on Thursday as the club lost 5-0 to the New York Islanders.

He played a role in the first goal, making an ill-timed line change just as the Wings were turning the puck over in the neutral zone. His defensive zone turnover led to the game’s fourth goal.

In the second period, Kasper was assessed a 10-minute misconduct. Late in the game, he fought with Islanders defenseman Tony DeAngelo.

Kasper & DeAngelo drop the gloves at center after DeAngelo didn't like a hit Kasper laid on Shabanov. #LGRW pic.twitter.com/c7tRojPXG1

— Ryan Hana (@RyanHanaWWP) November 21, 2025

If you didn’t already know that Kasper was struggling, he went out of his way to emphatically emphasize it. Sure, he wasn’t the only one wearing the Winged Wheel who was abysmal on Thursday. But for most, this game was a symptom.

In Kasper’s case, it’s becoming an ongoing malady.

“I know, he knows, his teammates know he’s a better player than what we have right now,” Red Wings coach Todd McLellan said.

Sophomore Jinx Afflicting Red Wings Kasper

The sophomore jinx isn’t just a cliche. It’s a frequent occurrence in professional sport.

Often, rookies can start like gangbusters and exceed expectations. That certainly was the case last season for Kasper. Classified as a suspect offensive player by NHL scouts, he went out and netted 19 goals.

With that output comes higher expectations from his own team and increased attention from other teams. So far, Kasper is battling with both of these changes. Through 21 games, his stat line shows three goals and no assists. Both Detroit goalies, Cam Talbot and John Gibson, have assists this season. Kasper, who began the campaign as Detroit’s No. 2 center, does not.

In the past 10 games, he is pointless and minus-7.

Based on those factors, and on his performance on Thursday, Kasper is also battling with a crisis of confidence.

“It’s difficult when you’ve entered the league and a lot of good things have happened for you,” McLellan said. “And then you come back, and all that momentum goes away.

“But confidence isn’t something that’s in your back pocket and you just lose it at the mall or leave it in your car. Over time, it erodes, and you’ve got to find ways to stop the momentum and get it back.”

How Can Red Wings Help Kasper Turn It Around?

Of course, this scenario can’t continue to be allowed to fester. The Wings need to find a way to lift Kasper out of his season-long funk.

“It’s 20 games in,” teammate and sometimes linemate JT Compher said. “You don’t have as many points as you think you should.”

There’s no magical formula for Kasper.

“It’s about going back to what you are as a player,” Compher said. “And he’s a hard-working skater and transporter of the puck.

“Those are the things he does well. And those things, you don’t really need to be feeling your best to do.

“It’s on us to pick him up, and it’s on him to continue to come here and work every day.”

McLellan has tried several moves in an attempt to find a solution. He switched Kasper from center back to the wing. He’s played him up and down the lineup.

So far, nothing has helped.

BARZY AND BO MAKE IT 4-0. pic.twitter.com/I8Fh7kyvoa

— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) November 21, 2025

“Everybody’s got to participate in cracking that, starting with Marco,” McLellan said. “And then the coaching staff and his teammates have to help him. But we need the best from him. And right now, he doesn’t look like the same player.”

Perhaps it’s time to consider reuniting him with Dylan Larkin and Lucas Raymond. Playing on that line last season was when Kasper’s game first began to blossom.

If nothing works, if Kasper continues to flounder, does the time come when it might even be best to send him back to the AHL Grand Rapids Griffins to find his game and his confidence? He wouldn’t be the first fast-starting kid who needed a reset.

That seems like a drastic, desperate measure. But if Kasper continues to struggle, it may be the only option left on the table.