Daily Faceoff’s Steven Ellis lists 10 players who might wind up winning the NHL’s Calder Trophy as the league’s best rookie, and while Marco Kasper isn’t going to win the award, it’s nice to see him get some national recognition:
8. Marco Kasper, LW (Detroit Red Wings)
After starting the season in the AHL, Kasper registered an assist in his first game up with Detroit on Oct. 19. He then went without a point for over a month and entered December with just five points in 19 games. But then January rolled around and everything changed. Kasper finished just one point behind Hutson for the most points among rookies last month with 12, and had the most goals with seven. All but one of the points came at 5-on-5, too. His ice time improved to 14:35, and now he’s skating on Detroit’s top line with Dylan Larkin and Lucas Raymond. Kasper looks so comfortable right now, and his two-way game hasn’t wavered even after moving to the wing.
Continued; there was no “everything changed.” Kasper worked his way up the lineup over the course of October, November and December, and now, under coach McLellan, he’s doing a great job of playing as a “digger” and forechecker for Larkin and Raymond.
