A couple of days ago, the Kleine Zeitung in Austria posted a behind-the-paywall article discussing Red Wings 8th overall draft pick Marco Kasper and his relationship with his dad, Peter, who was a long-time professional hockey player.
Yesterday night, Hockey-News.info’s Markus Rinner lifted the veil on the article ever-so-slightly, revealing that the Buffalo Sabres, who picked right behind the Red Wings at 9th overall, really wanted to pick Kasper instead of Winnipeg Ice center Matt Savoie.
This is one of those “small detail, but you might be interested in it” articles.
Anyway, here’s a translation thereof:
The Buffalo Sabres really wanted to draft Marco Kasper!
It’s been a little over two weeks since the Detroit Red Wings drafted Marco Kasper. But they weren’t the only team that really wanted to do so.
Marco Kasper was drafted by the Red Wings 8th overall in this year’s NHL Draft, making him the second-highest Austrian pick in NHL history, after Thomas Vanek, who was picked 5th overall in 2003.
As his father, Peter Kasper, told the Kleine Zeitung, it wouldn’t have hurt his son’s hockey career if he wasn’t drafted in the first round. But it would have certainly been a disappointment if they went [back to the hotel] after four hours of waiting having not been selected.
But that wouldn’t have been the case, either, if the Red Wings hadn’t picked him. As the elder Kasper explains, the Buffalo Sabres, who picked 9th overall, directly after the Red Wings, would definitely have picked him.
It’s been a little over two weeks since the Detroit Red Wings drafted Marco Kasper. But they weren’t the only team that really wanted him.
The Sabres, who also picked Austrian Thomas Vanek in 2005, were so confident in Kasper that they even discussed a trade with the Red Wings. But [the Red Wings] wanted the 18-year-old center for themselves, and weren’t receptive to it.
The forward is now going to Sweden for another season, where he’ll continue to breathe the high-class professional air with his SHL team in Rogle, and will prepare himself properly for his first NHL season, which will probably be in 2023-2024.
So another team even (allegedly) disagrees with Scott Wheeler.
I felt good about the Kasper pick before. I feel great about it now.
I loved the Kasper pick and was wanting them to pick him all along. The negative reaction from so many fans surprised me but I think Yzerman will be proved correct as usual. Glad he turned down that offer from Buffalo.