Red Wings recall first-round pick Kasper after standout season in Sweden

Detroit News

Detroit − The Red Wings made an interesting personnel decision after Thursday’s 3-2 victory over Carolina.

The Wings called up forward Marco Kasper, the team’s first-round draft pick last July, from Rogle BK of the Swedish Hockey League.

Kasper, only 18, spent the entire season in Rogle, collecting 23 points (eight goals, 15 assists) and a plus-seven rating, along with 72 penalty minutes, in 52 games. Kasper added three assists in nine postseason games.

Kasper’s 23 points were the second-most by any skater 20 years of age or younger in the Swedish professional league.

Kasper (6-foot-1, 192 pounds) projects as a two-way center, with a penchant for driving hard to the net and not shying away from physical play.

The Wings picked Kasper with the eighth pick overall in the 2022 Entry Draft. Kasper became the highest Austrian-born pick since former Wings forward Thomas Vanek, who was selected fifth overall by the Buffalo Sabres in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft.

Kasper contributed two assists in seven games with Austria at the 2022 men’s world championships in Helsinki and Tampere, Finland. He also captained Austria at the 2022 world junior championship, making two appearances before the tournament was postponed due to COVID-19 concerns.

The Wings will not hold a morning skate Friday in Winnipeg. It’s unclear if, or when, Kasper will play with the Wings this season.

ted.kulfan@detroitnews.com

Twitter: @tkulfan

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