It's hard to imagine anyone will fill the first line center spot once the Detroit Red Wings trade Dylan Larkin.
Maybe they'll platoon the position, swapping Andrew Copp, J.T. Compher and Marco Kasper in and out intermittently. There's also a chance the new general manager makes a trade for someone like Elias Pettersson of the Vancouver Canucks. Unless, by some miracle, they happen to produce a first line center out of thin air, the Red Wings will likely have to rely on what they have already.
That's where Marco Kasper comes in.
While Kasper suffered one of the worst sophomore slumps in recent memory, scoring just 19 points in 81 games, underlying numbers suggest he's bound to bounce back:
No need to hit the panic button on Kasper. A bad shooting season and crummy on-ice shooting as well sunk his point totals, but under the hood he looks fine. I expect him to be back on track next season. https://t.co/dPWRTi26Zg pic.twitter.com/oCN2ggRBva
May 15, 2026If the Red Wings set him up for success, there's no telling what kind of bounce back campaign the former first round pick can build.
The best way to ensure Marco Kasper's success
The best (and simplest) way to improve the production of a player is to surround him with other, talented players. Throwing Kasper on a line with Lucas Raymond and Alex DeBrincat would create a perfect situation for Kasper. He'd have a talented set-up man in Raymond and an elite sniper with DeBrincat. All he'd have to do is facilitate the work as the middleman to make sure the pucks go to their proper place.
With that said, a promotion to this level does come with its own set of challenges. It's absolutely imperative that Kasper keep up with the pace of other top lines. That means he'll have to go up against opponents like Nathan MacKinnon and Connor McDavid. It's going to be tough - no doubt about it - but, as the old expression goes, diamonds are formed under pressure.
And pressure appears to be where Kasper thrives.
With that said, he'll need to show head coach Todd McLellan that he can earn it. In an ideal world, Kasper spent the offseason healing from his knee injury and rounding out the other facets of his game. That way, when the season starts and Dylan Larkin is (hopefully) gone, Kasper can step in with as little growing pains as possible.
Where Kasper plays at his best
Kasper led all Red Wings in hits last season, throwing down 186 in 81 games. He's more than capable of putting his body on the line if need be. This is where he could play a key role for his line mates. If he can fill the niche role that a player like Tyler Bertuzzi did in the past, his physicality can open up passing lanes for DeBrincat and Raymond, allowing them to cycle the puck properly to build out key scoring opportunities.
This might not always manifest on the stat sheet for Kasper, but it makes him instrumental all the same. When it comes to a player like Kasper, there are going to be nights where he's scoreless, and others where he's everywhere on the ice. Consistency is something that's developed over time. It might take a little longer for him, but, if he's put in a position to succeed, the Red Wings will be all the better for it.
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