Austria's Marco Kasper was named Best Player after the game against Slovakia.
photo: Andre Ringuette/IIHF
Marco Kasper just turned 21 last month, but he is leading the Austrian team out of relegation trouble and perhaps, just maybe, a spot in the playoffs this year. He is leading the team in goals (4 in 5 games) and points (5), as well as ice time (20:25) and plus-minis (+5). In all, the team has scored 12 goals in five games, so Kasper has been involved in nearly half his team’s offence.
Coming off his first full NHL season, with Detroit, Kasper’s future looks bright. Not Austria bright. World bright. Thomas Vanek bright. And he not only has his home country to thank, but also Sweden, the country in which he played for three seasons.
“There was a great youth program where I played in Klagenfurt,” Kasper elaborated about his development. “We often played higher teams like the Swedish U18 teams for example, but when I turned 16, I decided to come to Sweden and get even more practise and play against the best players all the time. It helped me a lot. They gave me chances, even with the A team, when I was young. I had a great time in Sweden and went to school, too, so it was great.”
During Kasper’s time with Rogle, 2020-23, Kasper also played at the 2021 World Juniors and then the ill-fated 2022 edition in Edmonton. Later that year he appeared in his first IIHF WM where he had three goals in four games. As a result of this excellent 2021-22 season, he was selected a lofty 8th overall by Detroit at the 2022 NHL Entry Draft.
Kasper comes by a love of the game naturally. His father, Peter, played at five World Championships between 1996 and 2003 as well as the Salt Lake Olympics in 2002.
“He's a big part of my life and a big part of my career,” Marco continued. “He taught me a lot. I always talk to my dad before and after games. He’s always there with support.”
Kasper knows of Vanek’s reputation even though the retired superstar played a bit before Kasper’s time.
“He was an awesome player. He could score any way, tips, in front, any way,” Kasper said. “To be honest, he’s probably a little bit too old for me and Vinzenz Rohrer and our group to watch, but it was amazing the success that he had and it shows us the way with the career that he had, along with Michael Raffl and Michael Grabner.”
Kasper made his NHL debut during the 2022-23 season, playing one game, and the next year he was in the AHL, with Detroit’s farm team in Grand Rapids. This year, he played 77 games with the Red Wings, scoring 19 goals and 37 points.
“I just finished my first year there, so I was just happy to get the chance,” he explained. “It was kind of tough for us as a team, but we have a really good young group. It was a lot of fun, but I have to keep pushing this summer and be ready for next season.”
Joining an NHL team is as much about trying to find a role in the lineup more than skill and skating and shooting. That part of his game has been a work in progress, but Kasper has the tools to adapt and succeed.
“I’ve had a couple of different tools and played all through the lineup,” he explained. “I played some centre and then switched to wing for a while. No matter what I have to be responsible defensively and take advantage of my scoring chances, but the biggest part of my game is my compete level. I have to compete every time I’m on the ice.”
For now, he’s competing for Austria and thriving. He’s still young and developing and learning, but Kasper’s is a name that you will hear for a long time, both internationally and in the NHL.
Coming off his first full NHL season, with Detroit, Kasper’s future looks bright. Not Austria bright. World bright. Thomas Vanek bright. And he not only has his home country to thank, but also Sweden, the country in which he played for three seasons.
“There was a great youth program where I played in Klagenfurt,” Kasper elaborated about his development. “We often played higher teams like the Swedish U18 teams for example, but when I turned 16, I decided to come to Sweden and get even more practise and play against the best players all the time. It helped me a lot. They gave me chances, even with the A team, when I was young. I had a great time in Sweden and went to school, too, so it was great.”
During Kasper’s time with Rogle, 2020-23, Kasper also played at the 2021 World Juniors and then the ill-fated 2022 edition in Edmonton. Later that year he appeared in his first IIHF WM where he had three goals in four games. As a result of this excellent 2021-22 season, he was selected a lofty 8th overall by Detroit at the 2022 NHL Entry Draft.
Kasper comes by a love of the game naturally. His father, Peter, played at five World Championships between 1996 and 2003 as well as the Salt Lake Olympics in 2002.
“He's a big part of my life and a big part of my career,” Marco continued. “He taught me a lot. I always talk to my dad before and after games. He’s always there with support.”
Kasper knows of Vanek’s reputation even though the retired superstar played a bit before Kasper’s time.
“He was an awesome player. He could score any way, tips, in front, any way,” Kasper said. “To be honest, he’s probably a little bit too old for me and Vinzenz Rohrer and our group to watch, but it was amazing the success that he had and it shows us the way with the career that he had, along with Michael Raffl and Michael Grabner.”
Kasper made his NHL debut during the 2022-23 season, playing one game, and the next year he was in the AHL, with Detroit’s farm team in Grand Rapids. This year, he played 77 games with the Red Wings, scoring 19 goals and 37 points.
“I just finished my first year there, so I was just happy to get the chance,” he explained. “It was kind of tough for us as a team, but we have a really good young group. It was a lot of fun, but I have to keep pushing this summer and be ready for next season.”
Joining an NHL team is as much about trying to find a role in the lineup more than skill and skating and shooting. That part of his game has been a work in progress, but Kasper has the tools to adapt and succeed.
“I’ve had a couple of different tools and played all through the lineup,” he explained. “I played some centre and then switched to wing for a while. No matter what I have to be responsible defensively and take advantage of my scoring chances, but the biggest part of my game is my compete level. I have to compete every time I’m on the ice.”
For now, he’s competing for Austria and thriving. He’s still young and developing and learning, but Kasper’s is a name that you will hear for a long time, both internationally and in the NHL.