The Vancouver Canucks could target a Detroit Red Wings center to help boost their incipient rebuild based on an opinion.

Getty

The Vancouver Canucks could target a Detroit Red Wings center to help boost their incipient rebuild based on an opinion.

The Vancouver Canucks’ rebuild is officially in full swing. While the club hasn’t made any major moves just yet, it doesn’t mean they won’t come at some point.

That potential situation has promoted The Athletic’s Thomas Drance and Harman Dayal to posit potential trade candidates the Canucks could have in their sights. One target that Drance and Dayal suggest is Detroit Red Wings center Marco Kasper.

Now, before proceeding, it’s worth pointing out that this move is a supposition, at best. It’s not actually a rumor of an imminent trade. Rather, it’s an exercise in finding good fits for the Canucks moving forward.

That being said, Kasper does seem like a fantastic fit for Vancouver, current struggles notwithstanding.

Kasper was the eight-overall pick from the 2022 NHL Draft. He made the Red Wings’ lineup last season, having a strong rookie campaign.

However, this season has been a tough one for Kasper. He hit the midway mark of this year with just two goals. Since then, he’s rebounded, totaling six goals and 13 points in 57 games. A hot streak during the stretch run following the Olympics could bring Kasper close to his 19 goals and 37 points from a season ago.

But that’s not a guarantee at this point. While it’s worth noting that the Red Wings haven’t given up on Kasper, push may come to shove. Kasper doesn’t really seem like the 2C Detroit envisioned he would become. But there’s a bigger reason why Canucks fans could hear more chatter involving Kasper.

Red Wings’ Depth Down the Middle Could Be an Opportunity for Vancouver

Kasper was earmarked to become the Red Wings’ second-line center. The plan was to line up Kasper behind captain Dylan Larkin. That plan seemed on track last season. But given this year’s struggles, the Wings have moved Kasper to the wing.

The move has worked out all right, but it calls into question Kasper’s role with the team. That’s why the Canucks could look into Kasper. The Red Wings have two veteran middle-six centers in Andrew Copp and J.T. Compher. They also have a capable fourth-line center in Michael Rasmussen, plus top prospect Nate Danielson on the way. 

The Red Wings also have other potential top-six forwards on the horizon. So, it would make sense for the Canucks to target Kasper. In Vancouver, Kasper wouldn’t face the pressure he has now in Detroit to make the leap for a potential playoff team.

Canucks Might Land Kasper on the Cheap

Perhaps the biggest benefit to targeting Kasper is that the Canucks could get him on the cheap. If Kasper continues to struggle, it’s unlikely they will have a high asking price for the 21-year-old. While it’s hard to envision the Red Wings just giving up on Kasper, there’s a chance for a hockey trade. 

Detroit has been looking into defensemen. An example of that was the pursuit of Quinn Hughes and Rasmus Andersson. 

The Canucks don’t really have anyone like that outside of Filip Hronek who the Red Wings could target. But what if someone like Victor Mancini could entice the Red Wings as part of a prospect-based hockey trade?

It’s an interesting option to consider. While unlikely at this point, there’s always the chance something could happen seemingly out of the blue.

Nestor Quixtan Seasoned NHL analyst and baseball writer focused on covering clubs across each league with news, analysis, and insights. Originally from Toronto, Canada, Nestor’s singular experiences and background have enabled him to bring a different take on the sports world as a whole. Nestor’s fondness for baseball and hockey set the tone for his love and passion for writing about sports. More about Nestor Quixtan

More Heavy on Canucks

Loading more stories