The Athletic’s Max Bultman discusses his observations related to the impacts of the Red Wings’ young forwards who are vying for a job on the Wings’ roster, or at least an early and substantial call-up from Grand Rapids–Nate Danielson, Marco Kasper and Carter Mazur.
Bultman begins by discussing Danielson’s game-winning goal during last night’s 2-1 victory over Pittsburgh as something of a break-out moment:
A preseason goal only counts for so much. Danielson still, in all likelihood, looks headed for Grand Rapids to start the season — where he can play the kind of big-minute, offensive role that will help him down the line for the Red Wings.
But the goal still mattered because, for all of the impressive details in Danielson’s game, he will at some point be expected to produce offense. And while a breakaway goal in an exhibition won’t change any narratives about his potential to do so, it still was an example of the skill in his game that can at times be overlooked.
And while it was Danielson’s night on Tuesday, he’s really just one of a handful of young forwards who have made their marks on this preseason through five of Detroit’s eight exhibition games.
At the top of that list is Marco Kasper, who has arguably raised his stock (publicly, at least), as much as any Red Wing this preseason. He’s been consistently noticeable in all of his exhibition action, whether it’s been for his effectiveness on the penalty kill, making some skilled plays of his own or for his skating and puck-transporting ability.
Then there’s Carter Mazur, who coming off a successful playoff run in the AHL last Spring arrived at camp with some much-needed mass added onto his frame, and has spent the preseason showing his willingness to go to hard parts of the ice and challenge for pucks. Add in Danielson, and the Red Wings have a nice collection of near-term prospects on their hands.
“Very impressed with all three of them,” head coach Derek Lalonde said. “They’ve kind of played into my optimistic vision of them. I like all three, I think I’ve stated that quite a bit over the last year, year and a half, and they’ve done nothing to disappoint.”
Continued (paywall); as Bultman suggests, all three forwards play a similar game in terms of their defensive awareness and responsible natures, but they’re all a little different in that Danielson’s the most dynamic of the three, Kasper is the real ball-buster in terms of his ability to play as a feisty two-way center, and Mazur’s the net-front pest and gritty grinder who will serve as an inspirational force at some point soon.
