The Detroit Red Wings practiced on Friday at Little Caesars Arena ahead of a consequential game against the Nashville Predators tomorrow (2 PM EDT on Bally Sports Detroit), and they did so with roster emergency recall Marco Kasper, but without Tyler Motte or Andrew Copp.
After practice, coach Derek Lalonde told the media that Jeff Petry will return to the lineup tomorrow, that Alex Lyon will start opposite Juuse Saros, and that the team may go with 11 forwards and 7 defensemen depending on the health of Motte and Copp.
The Hockey News’s Sam Stockton kicks off our survey of the Red Wings beat writers’ notebooks from today’s practice:
After Christian Fischer went down with an injury earlier this week, Lalonde noted that they likely wouldn’t call up a player like Kasper as a short-term fill-in because it would come at the cost of significant minutes in Grand Rapids. What’s different now? Per Lalonde, the difference is that a “significant role” is on offer for Kasper to step into. “I think we’ll see him in our top nine, and we’ll see him on both special teams,” he said of what that role could look like.
As for what he’s looking for from Kasper, Lalonde said, “I still need him to play within himself. I think early last year, this was new for him. He tried to do too much. You saw there just wasn’t time and space. Probably what we ask of the other guys: manage your game, don’t turn pucks over, play with energy, get above, be on top. I think a little help with some forecheck, just some pop in his skating, some energy. We’ll be cautious with how we judge him. This is his second NHL game.”
And in lieu of a practice report, the Free Press’s Helene St. James posted a 2:21 video of Marco Kasper speaking with the media:
Update: Here’s more in written form from St. James:
Continue reading Kasper to participate in a ‘significant role’ during emergency recall