Picture it: October 18, 2024.
Detroit, Michigan.
The morning after a hunter’s moon, the Detroit Red Wings finally recalled Marco Kasper. I hear the nay-sayers, it’s a temporary move to fill in for the guys suffering from the flu bug going around. But, I choose to believe otherwise.
Ansar Khan, of MLive, shared this tweet, among other helpful tidbits:
Seider and Edvinsson getting the majority of reps together, so maybe that’s a pair tomorrow. https://t.co/G3Aj9L8KGz
— Ansar Khan (@AnsarKhanMLive) October 18, 2024
It’s only four games into the season, but I haven’t gotten this mad about a season since 2019-20 and that’s saying something. Considering the teams that have been iced since, and the team we have currently it’s fair to say that my expectations increased. Maybe that judgment was misplaced on my part, so the Detroit Red Wings are playing up to their own standards. It could be the quality of competition they’re playing against. Or, it could even be their love of old farts. Whatever the case, it’s not pleasant to watch. It’s likely less enjoyable to play in.
Players either don’t seem to know or care to understand the systems that head coach Derek Lalonde is implementing. The snowball is growing ever larger as it rolls down the hill.
Although, a new break is on the horizon with the addition of another victim or champion. He gets to decide the outcome, thankfully.
Marco Kasper is back with the Detroit Red Wings, expected on the s'more line
With the Grand Rapids Griffins, the American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate to the Detroit Red Wings, Marco Kasper and Jonatan formed two-thirds of the s’more line (the third member being Carter Mazur). It was a top line that head coach of the Grand Rapids Griffins Dan Watson returned to again and again through the back half of the 2023-24 season.
Whenever I watched the trio, I always wanted some more (s’more) of their line as they played incredibly well together.
Not having the third member, Mazur, will be disappointing, but I think Michael Rasmussen (who is scheduled to play on the third line with Kasper and Berggren) will be a nice addition to the s’more line.
Rasmussen and Mazur bring a lot of the same skillsets to the table. In my book, I think Rasmussen has the higher potential (in terms of skill with his shot and getting in tight to the goaltender), but Mazur is more consistent. Mazur is a hound. In a lot of ways, Kasper and Mazur mirror one another’s game, but they’re great at working off of each other so they’re not competing for the same space on the ice like some players I’ve seen (they get too caught up in a certain area or role within the team, whereas both Kasper and Mazur just play in whatever way they can best help their linemates without hesitation).
Berggren is the specialty guy. He might not do the heavy lifting (although this aspect of his game certainly has a facelift this season, the team and Berggren are best served if he’s not the one doing most of the heavy lifting duties on his line). Let him dance, while Kasper and Rasmussen reincarnate the bash brothers (with a bit more skill, hopefully).
Also, Berggren is starting to show more confidence in his game at the NHL level. Even before Kasper’s arrival, Berggren has played more like himself as he tries to balance the two-way game that is demanded of him and remaining true to himself.
With the Grand Rapids Griffins, Berggren always stood a little bit taller and played a little bit meaner when Kasper was on his line. It’s kind of the Kasper effect; he just gives guys a boost to their egos. They know that, firstly, Kasper is going to give his all no matter what his teammates, opponents, or coaches are doing. Second, they aren’t alone on the ice. Whether it’s moving up the ice on a two-on-one, clearing the crease in front of our goaltender, making a play in the neutral zone, or stirring the opponent’s drinks, Kasper is always there. There’s not a question; he just does it. Whatever it is, he’s signed up for it if his teammates are.
He boosts everyone’s confidence when he’s on the team (whether on the bench or the ice), drawing everyone into the fight.
The trio should be a breath of fresh air and a change of pace. They should bring a balanced approach and added scoring depth.
In the previous games, the third line was primarily used to shut down the opponent’s best lines. I’m not hoping for a world-shattering change, but something like the Damien Brunner, Gustav Nyquist, and Joakim Anderson line equivalent would be a welcomed sight. Back in the day, this line provided something fun to watch as they added some much-needed scoring depth to the team.
Supposebly (as my aunt loves saying as she makes quotes with her fingers), this line will be together even with the flu bug going around.
Tyler Motte, after literally becoming a butthead (taking a butt to his head), he’s being evaluated for an upper-body injury.
Other anticipated changes to the lineup seem to be on the backend and the starting goaltender.
It seems like the Detroit Red Wings might go 11 defensemen and seven forwards, leaving possibly Olli Määttä as the odd man out. This makeup may allow Erik Gustafsson to remain as the top power play unit guy and be allowed to rest in between power play chances as he adjusts to playing the right side—something he’s very new to in his defense. I’m still unsure as to why Gustafsson is the supposed answer on the power play, but whatever floats their boat on not scoring on the power play. (According to people smarter than me, the point on the power play isn’t the issue, but I feel like the point should be run more like a quarterback where the point man is running the plays. At least that’s what Simon Edvinsson has shown me in his game when he man’s the point on the power play, but I digress.)
Määttä had a rough game against the New York Rangers, as did many players, so a reset wouldn’t be a bad thing for him. Although, I very much appreciated Määttä with Albert Johansson, who might be tapping in on defense once more.
Pairing Johansson with Justin Holl should be interesting. After Edvinsson and Holl played pretty well together, I’m interested in seeing how the updated pairings will do.
Finally, Cam Talbot got his warm welcome into the: “This is why nobody wants to backstop the Detroit Red Wings club.” Did he have a great game? No, but again, he’s not alone. Mistakes were made all around and a good deal of that blame can be placed on a goalie’s shoulders. However, nobody in their right mind would want to play goal for this team.
With this in mind, the Detroit Red Wings are starting the savior that is Alex Lyon. Everyone, make sure to buckle up.
These minor changes should help propel the Detroit Red Wings in the right direction.
My favorite move, of course, is bringing up Kasper who has more than earned his spot as a regular in the Detroit Red Wings lineup. Johansson factoring back into the lineup is my second favorite change (though I hope Määttä isn’t out for an extended period, I still love that guy).
The chase for Lord Stanley doesn’t start tomorrow, but icing the players who give us the best chance to win is a great start on the road to success (no matter what definition you have of success).
It stings that the Detroit Red Wings have taken four games to see it, but it’s better late than never.