Reading too much into the Detroit Red Wings preseason lineup

Picture it: October 3, 2024.

A dream unfolds. One many of us have dreamt of for a lifetime. Okay, since 2021, but a lifetime gives the dramatic effect that I’m looking for.

In a world where fans aren’t able to have it all, Detroit Red Wings head coach Derek Lalonde iced a once-in-a-lifetime lineup against the Toronto Maple Leafs (yeah, yeah, Marlies, but again dramatic effect):

The game didn’t go according to plan.

Things fell flat like the Pittsburgh Penguins against the Grand Rapids Griffins lineup.

Even with the bummer of a game, it was a fun moment for fans to watch Simon Edvinssona and Moritz Seider skate on a defensive pairing for the first time in a game.

Two of our iconic prospects playing side by side, a moment that we thought might never happen (or at the very least wouldn’t happen so soon).

They looked assured in each other, confident in making plays, and helped each other whenever they could. 

Some of my favorite glimpses of the future came when Seider was confident enough to leave Edvinsson behind the Detroit Red Wings goaltender, Cam Talbot. 

Although there were mistakes made by everyone all over the ice, play rarely stalled in the Detroit Red Wings zone when Seider and Edvinsson were on the ice together.

It’s amazing watching Edvinsson make plays that look simple—like on the first shift of the game (the first few seconds of play), he collects a puck using his albatross-sized wingspan that he has no business getting control of, brings the puck in and protects it. Then, Edvinsson quickly turns the puck up the ice for a high-danger scoring chance against the opposition.

I’m not sure if any other player on the Detroit Red Wings could have made that play. At the very least nobody else could have made the play so smoothly and easily.

Edvinsson will have growing pains, as he did last night, but I have full confidence in him playing anywhere in the lineup. Playing on the top pair with Seider is where the Detroit Red Wings are likely to see the best success and most impact on the team overall.

Given how Seider played with Edvinsson as well, I think playing the two together will help Seider grow his offensive game as well.

Not being shelled in his own end helps things, but also having a partner he has full confidence and trust in allows him the freedom to find parts of his game that have remained dormant too long.

Understandably, the pair may not always play together (shoot, they might not play together regularly), but I’ve already seen enough to know that the duo shouldn’t be split up any time soon (even though Lalonde probably will change them up as soon as possible).

Going off on a side quest, let’s talk about the other name in the lineup that had me jumping for joy.

Marco Kasper.

I don’t care what anyone says, Kasper is a good, effective player.

Mistakes were made, but I loved his eagerness and determination to play as hard as he could, even if he was exhausted.

He missed an assignment on the penalty kill, but I think Andrew Copp could have supported more on the goal against as well. I know Kasper was at fault, but I'm just saying there was blame to be shared (there always is).

We were lucky enough to see moments of the future Kasper where he was moving his feet constantly in the offensive zone, causing mayhem in front of the net, and the absolute hustle on the backcheck where he goes all out.

Kasper didn't get pushed around or back down from anyone. It's not in his DNA.

As important as his backbone is, so too is his discipline.

For a guy who plays such a rough-and-tumble game and stirs the drink of the other team, Kasper rarely takes penalties or loses his temper. Most of the time he's laughing or smiling even in the face of the opponent.

How high is Kasper's ceiling? I don’t know.

I wrote about Kasper’s possible ceiling before. Since then, I’ve watched more Kasper, and the waters have only muddied further There’s no clear ceiling for Kasper.

Likely, it’s not as high as I hoped, but it’s higher than most fans think. It’s a tantalizing reality.

Not only has Nate Danielson impressed this preseason, but Kasper came in like I hoped and has made waves.

Having two options down the middle that should be ready for a full-time gig in the National Hockey League (NHL) within the next two seasons is more than we could have hoped for before the 2022 NHL Entry Level Draft (when we selected Kasper).

Even after Danielson and Kasper were drafted, I know many fans (and even more public scouts) were disappointed in the selections. Citing their high floors with lower ceilings as their biggest drawbacks.

I’m not sure if Kasper or Danielson heard their critics or if they even care to hear them, but these guys look good. 

To find not one but two centers who could potentially play behind the number one center, Dylan Larkin, and look effective while doing it is something that seemed like a lost cause.

Now, we have two young guys fighting to center, Patrick Kane and Vladimir Tarasenko. 

Weird how things work out.