DETROIT — Marco Kasper was destined to be found by the Detroit Red Wings well before they selected him with the No. 8 pick in the 2022 NHL Draft on July 7.
The 18-year-old center prospect was playing for Rogle BK of the Swedish Hockey League, the team that produced the Red Wings defenseman. Moritz Seiderlast season’s winner of the Calder Trophy voted as NHL rookie of the year, and now includes two other Detroit selections in the 2020 NHL Draft — defenseman William Wallinder (No. 32) and forward Theodor Niederbach (No. 51).
“When I was in Europe watching Rogle, I got to see Marco by default; I wasn’t there to scout him, but I certainly noticed him,” Red Wings assistant director of player development Daniel Cleary said last week during their development camp. “I love the Rogle program, which is why we’re going to have three players there this season.”
Kasper has already played 56 games through two seasons in the SHL, the top professional league in Sweden, against high-level competition rather than age-group players. The same experience helped Seider and forward Lucas Raymond (Frolunda HC of the SHL) made an immediate impact in Detroit last season.
“It is a league where they really stress playing a good defensive game,” Kasper said. “There are great players in Sweden and we play on the Olympic-sized ice, so you have to play structured hockey on both ends.”
That’s something that appeals to Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman, who transformed himself into an outstanding 200-foot center after starting his career as more of an offensive threat.
“We’re trying to install a culture here that starts with work ethic,” Cleary said. “That’s the foundation of everything we’re doing.”
Kasper (6-foot-1, 183 pounds) already has that reputation, with 12 points (seven goals, five assists) in 56 SHL games, along with six points (two goals, four assists) in 12 Champions League games. He also has developed a tough net-front presence similar to Detroit center Michael Rasmussen.
Kasper was the highest Austrian-born pick since forward Thomas Vanek went No. 5 to the Buffalo Sabers in the 2003 NHL Draft. Like Seider leaving Germany for Sweden, Kasper arrived in Rogle from his native Austria.
“It was a difficult decision to leave home and leave my family, but I think it has been a good decision to go play in Sweden against better competition,” he said. “We have a good team and I’ve really developed as a player.”
Cleary said the main focus of the development camp was not to evaluate players, but to make sure they had the best possible tools to evolve as players.
“We work on skills with them, but a lot of what we are teaching is about proper recovery techniques,” he said. “We also have a nutritionist here, so the kids can learn what to eat and when to eat it — that’s an important aspect — and a sports psychologist to deal with the mental side of things.”
So, Kasper, who signed a three-year, entry-level contract with Detroit on July 13, is heading back to Sweden with homework, even if his workload might be lighter than others.
“We know Rogle runs a legit program that’s already dialed in,” Cleary said. “We might have some suggestions about making it a little better, but they are already in a good position.”
.