DetroitRedWings.com’s Jonathan Mills wrote an article which discusses the confidence with which Marco Kasper is armed as he approaches the Red Wings’ exhibition season, attempting to make a push for a roster spot on the NHL team:
This summer, Kasper had the opportunity to represent Team Austria during its Olympic qualifiers. He believes playing those competitive games – along with the muscle added during his offseason training – will help him be even more effective this season.
“I’m always trying to get stronger in the gym,” Kasper said. “Doing some heavy lifting, obviously some conditioning as well. Just trying to become a man, if you want to say it like that, and gain some pounds.”
A firm believer that hard work pays off, Kasper was often one of the last players off the ice after the Red Wings’ daily practices had concluded at Traverse City’s Centre ICE Arena.
“It’s just us, all of the players, pushing each other,” Kasper said. “We all want to get better and really strive to be a hard-working team, and I think we’re doing that really well. Just working with the skill guys out there between plays and trying to get better between every practice – it’s our mentality. That makes us get better.”
Kasper, who was selected by Detroit with the No. 8 overall pick in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft, is fueled by the belief he has what it takes to be an NHL player. His latest performance -– an assist and plus-1 rating in 16:40 of ice time in Wednesday’s 4-2 exhibition win over the Chicago Blackhawks at United Center – certainly showed Kasper is ready to battle for that opportunity.
“Comfortable with the puck,” Lalonde said postgame about Kasper’s play against the Blackhawks. “Obviously some opportunity in every situation, and I thought he handled it well.”
Continued; Kasper was smooth, tenacious and speedy last night, looking confident and smart both offensively and defensively as he slinked through the Blackhawks’ defenders and occasionally bumped and ground for pucks. Very impressive debut.
