Kasper said he wasn’t disappointed about being transferred to Grand Rapids after training camp, citing the talent at the top and within the Red Wings organization.

“We have a really good team now,” said Kasper. “We have a lot of young players who push each other forward in their development. This is really good. I’m just trying to do my best to get the call back here and work hard.”

Kasper is proud of the work he has done to earn this opportunity and said he feels more confident and better prepared for the NHL than ever before.

“I had a much better preseason this year,” Kasper said. “It helps, of course. It’s always fun to score a few goals. I think I’m just trying to build on last season. The first game in Grand Rapids was good, we won it. I’m just trying to build on things like that and be ready for the games up here now.”

Kasper felt the excitement of making his NHL debut on April 2, 2023, and then the disappointment of a lower-body injury he sustained in that game, which sidelined him for the remainder of the 2022–23 season. Because his first NHL experience was so short, the young forward admitted that it “feels like a debut.”

“Knowing that I played a game takes my nerves away a little,” Kasper said. “I’m trying to do my best now.”

During practice on Friday, Kasper skated on the third line alongside Michael Rasmussen and Jonatan Berggren. Lalonde said he hasn’t decided how many forwards or defensemen the Red Wings will use in Nashville, but believes the trio could be very effective.

“Ras can complement anyone because he anticipates, gives you second touches on pucks and gets you the puck,” Lalonde said. “He goes to the net and does some tough things. Of course I think we want to give Marco a chance to succeed and Berggren made a lot of plays. I know there wasn’t a lot of offense, but he created some of those chances.”