The Athletic’s Max Bultman will likely take us out late at night on Thursday/early Friday morning, ahead of Day 2 of the 2022 NHL Draft in Montreal (11 AM EDT start on the NHL Network and Sportsnet).
Bultman posted an article discussing the Red Wings’ decision to make a solid, if unspectacular pick in a solid, if unspectacular center named Marco Kasper in Montreal Thursday evening, filling a positional need while remaining in their SHL comfort zone:
“I think he’s really fundamentally sound,” [Red Wings GM Steve] Yzerman said. “I like the way he plays. He plays very simple. He drives hard to the net. He’ll drive down the wing. He can take the puck to the net, he’ll also pull up, look for the late guy, or he can find a guy through the seam. I think he’s a good all-around player. He’s a different player than Pavel Datsyuk or whatever, who has all those incredible moves, those guys are unique. But it doesn’t mean he’s not a really skilled guy.”
And if the Red Wings’ assessment of his skill being underrated proves true, then there is a clear path to him being a true top-six center: the biggest missing piece in Detroit’s rebuilding process so far. Since 2017, The Red Wings have used two first-round picks on centers — Michael Rasmussen and Joe Veleno — but so far, neither looks like he’ll slot into the top half of the lineup on a contender.
That’s left a notable hole behind Dylan Larkin in any long-term projections. And it’s crucial: Recent history has shown a strong 1-2 punch down the middle to be nearly non-negotiable among Stanley Cup champions. The Avalanche this season had Nathan MacKinnon and Nazem Kadri; the Lightning the two years previous had Brayden Point and Cirelli (with Steven Stamkos also playing center at various points, but often playing on the wing); St. Louis had Ryan O’Reilly and Brayden Schenn before that, and Washington had Nicklas Backstrom and Evgeny Kuznetsov.
Yzerman said earlier this week the team wouldn’t make its decision based on position — and there’s no reason to believe they did. In fact, he reiterated on Thursday they weren’t necessarily targeting a center. But he acknowledged it was an area that needed to be addressed, and now they have. That’s significant for the Red Wings’ long-term future.
“I like every part of his game,” Yzerman said. “I think he’s a strong skater, I think he moves the puck well, I think he sees the ice well. I really love how hard he competes and drives to the net. So, I wouldn’t really point to one part of his game that I think really stands out. I think he’s good at everything. Good defensive player. Well-rounded player for 18 years old.”
Continued (paywall)
