The Free Press’s Helene St. James discusses the messages sent to the Red Wings organization’s promising young forwards by coach Derek Lalonde after the team signed but also waived Auston Watson for assignment to Grand Rapids:
[Marco] Kasper, the team’s first-round pick (at No. 8 overall) in 2022, left an especially strong impression during exhibition season — one Lalonde admitted was good enough to stick if there was room for him in the lineup.
“They had a really good camp,” Lalonde said. “Probably more Marco, out of all those young guys, and they all had good camps, but Marco really stood out. Some scenarios where he could have found himself in the Day 1 lineup, but we’re trying other maximize our roster, and it’s not a bad thing for him to go straight down and be playing 22 minutes in every situation and be a simple call at any time.
“He made a really good impression on the organization, did really well.”
Kasper looked like he could fit in the top six, at center or wing. Danielson, the No. 9 pick in 2023, showed well when he had a chance to center the second line in a game last week.
“They would probably wish to be here, but credit to them how they worked, how they presented themselves, on an every day basis,” captain Dylan Larkin said. “Professionalism at a young age; maturity — it was there. It’s really exciting for our organization going forward — a lot of the young guys looked really good and promising. Those two especially.”
Continued; St. James also posted a video of Larkin and Lalonde speaking with the media:
