This morning, MLive’s Ansar Khan discusses the possibility of Marco Kasper or Carter Mazur making the Red Wings’ roster this September:
Mazur, a right-shooting winger selected 70th overall in 2021 (third round), tallied 17 goals and 37 points in 60 regular season games and three goals and eight points in nine playoff games with the Griffins. It was the first full AHL season for the scrappy 6-foot, 175-pound Jackson native.
Kasper, a left-shooting center taken eighth overall in 2022, collected 14 goals and 35 points in 71 regular season games and four goals and seven points in nine playoff games. He had a tough adjustment during his first season in North America with two goals and eight points in his first 26 games but improved as the season progressed.
“Both of those players had very good seasons,” Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman said before the draft. “Marco’s play just got stronger and stronger as the year went on. He’s a real good two-way player. The offense started to generate more, in particular in the playoffs. He goes to the net hard, strong on the puck. He’s strong defensively as a centerman. We’re really pleased with his development.
“The same with Carter Mazur. He’s got a real good feel for the game. He knows how to get open, he knows to work, where to go. He goes to all the hard areas, and he gets a puck on his stick and off the stick. It’s a little bit like the (Alex) DeBrincat shot. He shoots the puck and it’s a threat to go in. He’s got that every time he shoots. It’s a scoring chance.”
Continued (paywall); my gut feeling is that Mazur might make the Wings’ roster due to his status as a grinding player who doesn’t need “top six” minutes to excel.
