Much needed help is on the way for the Detroit Red Wings, with Marco Kasper slowly beginning practice once again.
Through 13 games, the team's bottom-six has been nothing short of underwhelming.
The combined efforts of Michael Rasmussen, Andrew Copp, J.T. Compher, Keegan Kolesar and Nate Danielson feel underwhelming at best and downright disappointing at worst.
This is not to say they are all bad players. Each of the bottom-six brings something to the Red Wings lineup to help the team, whether that be through the penalty kill or power play.
But, like Todd McLellan said about Dylan Larkin's return to the lineup, an injured player returning could help slot everyone in the right spots.
Marco Kasper's return should bolster bottom-six
Marco Kapser has been on the injured reserve list since October 6. If practice pictures are any indication, he could be eyeing a return soon. Getting Kasper back would be a game-changer for the Wings, who are currently starving at the center poisition with the departure of Dylan Larkin.
Once Kasper is back, the Wings should consider putting him on a line with Danielson and Carter Mazur for a wide variety of reasons:
The first is simple. Putting Kasper with two young players would bring more stability to the lineup, especially for young, inconsistent players like Nate Danielson and Carter Mzzur. Both forwards have been stuck in limbo this season, only playing in a handful of games and getting little to nothing in terms of ice time in the process.
With this hypothetical return, Danielson would be moved to the wing in this scenario. While Danielson is a natural center, every center in the Wings line up has started their NHL career on the wing -- Kasper included.
Kasper started out his career on the wing with Larkin and Lucas Raymond. Emmitt Finnie did the same thing. Even Larkin started his young career on the wing playing with Henrik Zetterberg. Now, it's Danielson's turn.
Having Danielson on the wing allows him to work on certain aspects of his game to get up to speed. Whether it be work with puck retrievals, playmaking, shooting when lanes are open, he can figure out and fine tune different parts of his game to get it in a good spot. Playing on the wing takes a lot of pressure off him, as well. It gives Danielson more room to grow his confidence, which is invaluable for a young player.
In turn, the group of Rasmussen, Compher and Kolesar would drop to the fourth line. This seems like an ideal fit for everyone involved.
Again, that is not a knock on them; every team that has won a Stanley Cup in recent years have needed all four lines. Rasmussen, Compher and Kolesar have been asked to punch above their weight in recent games, so adding the new Kasper line can relieve a ton of pressure for those players.
With 13 games under their belt and a 6-4-3 record, Kasper might be just what the Red Wings need to kick it up a notch.
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