There's an old saying that goes "the best time to plant a tree was 30 years ago, the second best time is now". The same can be said of players heating up. In the case of the Detroit Red Wings, now is as good a time as any for players to pick up the pace. The Red Wings lean heavily on their star power for scoring. But, when the scoring comes up short from these players (which happens frequently in the NHL), the depth needs to step up and score.
That's where Marco Kasper comes in.
To say Kasper is having a rough season is an understatement. His point totals have dropped, his ice time has taken a hit and he's struggled to find a consistent spot on the lineup. In his last 10 games, he's managed just a single goal. When taking a closer look at his stats compared to last season, a troubling trend begins to emerge:
Season | Goals | Points | Average time on ice |
|---|---|---|---|
2024-25 | 19 | 37 | 15:27 |
2025-26 | 7 | 16 | 14:00 |
To put it simply, the Red Wings need Marco Kasper to step up more than ever before. Sooner or later, he has to live up to his draft status. Kasper, selected eighth overall in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft, has not taken the step forward the Red Wings hoped he would this year.
To be fair, sophomore slumps are common. Dylan Larkin had one. Lucas Raymond took a step back his sophomore year only to bounce back the following season. It's extremely common in the NHL.
But, even with this in mind, Kasper has to show he's worth relying on when the going gets tough.
New year encouraging start for Kasper
Before the start of the new year, Kasper had just five points. Since then, he's produced his remaining 11 points across the last 30 games. These numbers are, to put it simply, not up to par for a top-10 pick. Off the scoreboard, however, Kasper is picking up the pace. He's hitting harder, putting up 80 since January 1.
His Corsi percentage ranks among the top-10 Red Wings on the roster. This means the Red Wings possess the puck more with him on the ice than against. A further glimpse at the advanced stats reveals one key thing: Kasper is unlucky. His Expected Goals percentage is substantially higher than his actual goals per game. This means that he's shooting where he should shoot, but the puck just isn't entering the net.
The Red Wings need Kasper to produce
With all this in mind, the Red Wings still need all the help they can get from Kasper. They're facing off against one of the toughest schedules in the NHL. Eight of their next 11 games are either against playoff teams or playoff hopeful teams. If ever there was a time for Kasper to lock in, it's now. His physicality, coupled with his tenacity, make him an ideal fit for a high-stakes playoff atmosphere.
The problem lies in confidence.
Sooner or later, Kasper will break this cold streak. When that happens, he'll begin to develop enough confidence to crash the net more and fire the puck wherever he can. This offseason, he should focus on his shot and developing physically. With enough muscle, he and Emmitt Finnie can become a dynamic duo that makes other teams' lives a living hell.
The best time for Kasper to show his stuff was the start of the season. The second best time is right now.