[Michael Whitaker]”His Game Has Been Coming”: Red Wings’ Marco Kasper Breaks Out Of Lengthy Slump
January 17, 2026
[Michael Whitaker]”His Game Has Been Coming”: Red Wings’ Marco Kasper Breaks Out Of Lengthy Slump
14 comments
I am happy that fans have been patient with him and that it looks like he’s turning it around.
I have been dying along with everyone else watching his struggle this season. I believe in this kid and want nothing but the best for him. I think the love for him really shined through last night as the empty netter unfolded. Watch the replay and you can hear the crowd cheer when Raymond gets possession, then kick up a notch when they realize Kasper receives the pass, and then explode when the puck goes in. He’s going to be ok and I for one am here for it.
His game has been much better over the last month or so. The points were due to arrive.
Early season struggles were evident in his rookie season too. Hope he avoids that next year and this is just a big sophomore slump he emerges from in a big way
I think the role confusion has been a big part of that. Dunno what he did at summer but he started this season as some kind of gritty defensive 2C-3C for whatever reason and then Todd threw him around every 3-5 games, left, right and center.
Let’s see how he does over the span of like 5-10 games before we declare the slump over…
It’s almost like what I’ve been saying lmao. I love how everyone shows up in this sub to hand flowers out when a guy has success vs when he’s in a bad slump which he’s still very much everyone is down on him with nothing positive to say.
If you wanna unlock him offensively put him with Larkin and Ray he complements them and their style, I was saying it throughout the end of December when the top line had 5 points 5v5 through December thus far. Everyone told me I’m an idiot and Finnie needs to play there. What’s tha pointless through 11 12 games now. I rip on Finnie there but I’m proving a point vs actually dogging a 20 year old rookie. Kasper can play the dump and grind style as he at this point is the heaver player or plays heavier
He locked exactly like last year, now he’s starting to drive play with his legs, I still think on a game to game basis it’ll look different than yesterday with him deking and such but if he becomes a fabulous play driver in 2-3 years I’ll happily eat my words.
His game is driving through the corners on cycle and going to the net, but I think he might be able to unlock more offense if he stays around the net but away from it. Hockey is a game of timing if you time it perfectly from when the shot comes through if your quick enough you can find loose pucks around the net.
That might be more his style, vs puck goes on net and he’s parked in front of it which is how he’s been trying to create offense. Keep him on a line that can drive and cycle but when comes time to corral the puck said given line can do so.
Our top “trade deadline” acquisition if he can get it going
lets hope this is a start of something and not just a blip
I’ve been waiting and hoping and waiting and hoping for this kid. Such a force last year to have to endure this drought. Like a lot have said, sometimes a goal is all you need to break the dam, even if it is a EN.
Take it and run, kid!
They don’t call it a sophomore slump for nothing, would be so sick to see him start to produce before our playoff run……..see what I did there!
Truly great effort!
It’s funny, I was working on putting together a post about how Kasper’s play style has changed (not driving the net as much, playing into the board more) and wondered how much of that was schemes by Todd trying to increase team defense and limit turnovers. Then last night even before the assist he had two real good chances because he drove the center/slot instead of taking it into the corner.
Team defense needed to be cleaned up and sometimes it just takes guys a little while to figure out how to drive offense within those changes.
Hoping it’s a sign of things to come for him.
There is something to be gained for working hard to get to where you are and working even harder to get back up and to where you were before when you fall down.
Kasper has shown to be exactly who he is for those of us who followed him before he got drafted in Sweden and especially after. I wanted the Wings to draft him a lot after watching his play in Sweden. Then even more learning that he as a 16-year old Austrian travelled to Sweden, and enrolled in their school system, learning the language and speaking it fluently inside a year, playing hockey and graduating school at the same time. Then turning pro in Detroit.
It is so easily dismissed, and forgotten, especially by North American fans that these guys don’t just move to a different state, they go to a different country, language and culture. And learning the actual language and integrating as a 16-year old to boot is pretty strong-willed mentality-wise.
What Kasper has embodied through that he has done with the Wings also, and we are a lot better for it. That klnd of determination and fighting ability is what builds playoff performances and perseverance through hardships, learning and overcoming.
What it also does is create someone very hard on themselves as well, which is what Kasper has dealt with this season, breaking himself down, realizing it then building himself back up. He has gotten better and better the last few weeks and during the holidays, the offensive moves yesterday was just a culmination, not a single good gane. His game is built on tenacity, forechecking and gritty play, the skill is a bonus and comes out through confidence built by being that tenacious in your face player.
To compare to a more known star player, watch the OT goal Eichel scored against Toronto, where Matthews just gives up on skating back, instead of working hard when life goes against you. You want more Kasper’s in the lineup not less.
14 comments
I am happy that fans have been patient with him and that it looks like he’s turning it around.
I have been dying along with everyone else watching his struggle this season. I believe in this kid and want nothing but the best for him. I think the love for him really shined through last night as the empty netter unfolded. Watch the replay and you can hear the crowd cheer when Raymond gets possession, then kick up a notch when they realize Kasper receives the pass, and then explode when the puck goes in. He’s going to be ok and I for one am here for it.
His game has been much better over the last month or so. The points were due to arrive.
Early season struggles were evident in his rookie season too. Hope he avoids that next year and this is just a big sophomore slump he emerges from in a big way
I think the role confusion has been a big part of that. Dunno what he did at summer but he started this season as some kind of gritty defensive 2C-3C for whatever reason and then Todd threw him around every 3-5 games, left, right and center.
Let’s see how he does over the span of like 5-10 games before we declare the slump over…
It’s almost like what I’ve been saying lmao. I love how everyone shows up in this sub to hand flowers out when a guy has success vs when he’s in a bad slump which he’s still very much everyone is down on him with nothing positive to say.
If you wanna unlock him offensively put him with Larkin and Ray he complements them and their style, I was saying it throughout the end of December when the top line had 5 points 5v5 through December thus far. Everyone told me I’m an idiot and Finnie needs to play there. What’s tha pointless through 11 12 games now. I rip on Finnie there but I’m proving a point vs actually dogging a 20 year old rookie. Kasper can play the dump and grind style as he at this point is the heaver player or plays heavier
He locked exactly like last year, now he’s starting to drive play with his legs, I still think on a game to game basis it’ll look different than yesterday with him deking and such but if he becomes a fabulous play driver in 2-3 years I’ll happily eat my words.
His game is driving through the corners on cycle and going to the net, but I think he might be able to unlock more offense if he stays around the net but away from it. Hockey is a game of timing if you time it perfectly from when the shot comes through if your quick enough you can find loose pucks around the net.
That might be more his style, vs puck goes on net and he’s parked in front of it which is how he’s been trying to create offense. Keep him on a line that can drive and cycle but when comes time to corral the puck said given line can do so.
Our top “trade deadline” acquisition if he can get it going
lets hope this is a start of something and not just a blip
I’ve been waiting and hoping and waiting and hoping for this kid. Such a force last year to have to endure this drought. Like a lot have said, sometimes a goal is all you need to break the dam, even if it is a EN.
Take it and run, kid!
They don’t call it a sophomore slump for nothing, would be so sick to see him start to produce before our playoff run……..see what I did there!
Truly great effort!
It’s funny, I was working on putting together a post about how Kasper’s play style has changed (not driving the net as much, playing into the board more) and wondered how much of that was schemes by Todd trying to increase team defense and limit turnovers. Then last night even before the assist he had two real good chances because he drove the center/slot instead of taking it into the corner.
Team defense needed to be cleaned up and sometimes it just takes guys a little while to figure out how to drive offense within those changes.
Hoping it’s a sign of things to come for him.
There is something to be gained for working hard to get to where you are and working even harder to get back up and to where you were before when you fall down.
Kasper has shown to be exactly who he is for those of us who followed him before he got drafted in Sweden and especially after. I wanted the Wings to draft him a lot after watching his play in Sweden. Then even more learning that he as a 16-year old Austrian travelled to Sweden, and enrolled in their school system, learning the language and speaking it fluently inside a year, playing hockey and graduating school at the same time. Then turning pro in Detroit.
It is so easily dismissed, and forgotten, especially by North American fans that these guys don’t just move to a different state, they go to a different country, language and culture. And learning the actual language and integrating as a 16-year old to boot is pretty strong-willed mentality-wise.
What Kasper has embodied through that he has done with the Wings also, and we are a lot better for it. That klnd of determination and fighting ability is what builds playoff performances and perseverance through hardships, learning and overcoming.
What it also does is create someone very hard on themselves as well, which is what Kasper has dealt with this season, breaking himself down, realizing it then building himself back up. He has gotten better and better the last few weeks and during the holidays, the offensive moves yesterday was just a culmination, not a single good gane. His game is built on tenacity, forechecking and gritty play, the skill is a bonus and comes out through confidence built by being that tenacious in your face player.
To compare to a more known star player, watch the OT goal Eichel scored against Toronto, where Matthews just gives up on skating back, instead of working hard when life goes against you. You want more Kasper’s in the lineup not less.