Detroit prospect Marco Kasper could be answer for crucial second line centre spot.
The Detroit Red Wings have one of the league's best pools of prospects with many of them now starting to play meaningful roles in the lineup. One that is starting to show promise is Marco Kasper.
The 21-year-old Austrian centre got his first full-time role last season and used it to his advantage, putting up 19 goals and 18 assists for 37 points through 77 games played. Early lineup projections for next season have Kasper slated in the second line centre spot which has become a vital spot of any NHL lineup. The Florida Panthers have been dominating the league over the last two years with their second line centre being Conn Smythe winner Sam Bennett.
This craze of needing an impactful second line option up the middle has sent the league into a frenzy, according to multiple insider reports, as the position in the lineup was a focal point of many NHL teams entering free agency. Other early lineup reports for the Red Wings have Kasper instead on the top line wing with Dylan Larkin and Lucas Raymond but what if they continue to develop him as a centre.
Kasper has a large 6-foot-1 frame at over 200 pounds that makes him a good size for a centre and could see him take over a vital role for the Red Wings in the future and beyond. These same reports that have him as a top line wing have Andrew Copp listed as the second line centre instead of a third line option that would better suit him for his point production and style of play.
Copp has also not meshed well with Alex DeBrincat or Patrick Kane with 175 minutes played together last season with an even rating due to ten goals scored but also ten allowed. Kasper had far better numbers with the pair of wingers with 192 minutes played together and a team-best +4 rating as a unit.
The Red Wings options are limited for top line winger to go with Larkin and Raymond as Daily Faceoff's projections suggest veteran James van Riemsdyk. A powerful netfront presence like van Riemsdyk could potentially work in the role after he played top six minutes with the Blue Jackets.
The 36-year-old is a consistent 35-40 point production, meaning he could put up the same level as Kasper anyway. They may as well go with van Riemsdyk at the top left wing spot and let Kasper develop into his crucial role as a top-six centre.
