If Dylan Larkin ever does move on from Detroit, the first conversation will be about what the Red Wings get back. NHL players, prospects, draft picks - that part will dominate the headlines.
But the quieter ripple effect might matter just as much, especially for Marco Kasper.
The 22-year-old forward looks like the biggest internal winner if Larkin is no longer in the lineup. A top-six opening would almost certainly push Kasper into a permanent offensive role, and that kind of bump could land at exactly the right time in his development.
Kasper’s raw totals from last season - nine goals and 19 points in 81 games - don’t jump off the page. The deeper numbers tell a more encouraging story.
His 15.43 expected goals at five-on-five ranked second on the Red Wings, behind only Alex DeBrincat. On a per-60 basis, his 0.96 ixG/60 placed him 56th in the league, tied with Mason McTavish, Andrei Svechnikov and Jimmy Snuggerud.
So why didn’t that turn into more goals? Usage played a huge part.
Kasper spent most of the year in Detroit’s bottom six, often facing checking lines and getting limited looks in the offensive zone. Those minutes helped him build out his two-way game, but they also dragged down his scoring and left him with a 6.14 percent shooting percentage.
Even through what looked like a sophomore slump, Kasper still showed the traits that matter under the hood. He kept pressure on defenders, forced turnovers, won loose pucks and helped create controlled offensive-zone possessions. That’s the kind of work analytics models tend to reward, even when the box score doesn’t.
And that’s the key difference here. Goals and points can swing with role, linemates and shooting luck.
Play-driving numbers usually settle in faster, and they often give a clearer picture of whether a player is really influencing games. Kasper’s impact was still there, even if the points lagged behind.
There’s also the timing. He’s entering the final season of his entry-level deal, so he’ll be playing for his next contract.
On top of that, he’s hitting the age range where many forwards start making real offensive gains. That early-20s window is often where production climbs as the game slows down and the body catches up.
The lineup piece matters too. If Larkin is out, Kasper and Andrew Copp figure to handle the top two center spots, just like they did when Larkin was injured last season. That kind of move would change almost everything around Kasper’s production profile.
More minutes mean more chances. Better linemates usually mean better finishing.
More offensive-zone starts mean less time spent grinding through defensive shifts. Even a larger role on the power play could move his numbers in a big way over an 82-game season.
Detroit could use him at center or on the wing, but the ask would be the same: more offense, more often. He already brings speed, physicality, forechecking pressure and defensive awareness, which makes him a dependable NHL player. The next question is whether he can turn that into steady production against better competition.
The Red Wings have spent years building around Moritz Seider, Lucas Raymond, Simon Edvinsson and Kasper. If Larkin goes, the team’s reliance on internal growth only increases. A trade would still need to bring back future assets, but it would also create a real opening for the next wave.
For Kasper, the pieces are lining up. He’ll be 22, he’ll be playing for a new deal, and he should finally get the kind of top-six runway many thought he was ready for last season.
The underlying numbers say there’s more offense in there. The role would give him a chance to show it.
A Larkin trade would leave a massive hole in Detroit’s lineup. It could also be the moment Marco Kasper takes off.
In Other News...
Red Wings May Have Made Alex DeBrincat Untouchable
A trade idea tying Alex DeBrincat to Edmonton has sparked plenty of conversation because it speaks directly to how Detroit views one of its most productive forwards. The proposal would send DeBrincat to the Oilers for Quinn Hutson, Kasperi Kapanen and a protected first-round pick, but the reaction around the Red Wings has made one thing pretty clear: this is not the kind of return that feels close to enough for a player many fans seem to see as part of the clubs core.
For Edmonton, the challenge may be less about interest than about price. If Detroits internal valuation of DeBrincat is anywhere near the sentiment coming from its fan base, the Red Wings would likely need a much stronger package to even consider moving him. That creates a familiar trade-board problem for the Oilers and any other suitor, because the gap between what a team is willing to offer and what Detroit believes DeBrincat is worth could be the difference between a serious negotiation and a nonstarter. [Read more 🡒]
Red Wings Front Office Search Hints At A Bigger Reset
A front-office search can say as much about a franchises direction as any roster move, and the Red Wings latest step suggests this one is not being handled casually. Detroit has brought in outside help to guide its next executive search, a sign the organization is treating the hiring process as a chance to sharpen the structure around the team rather than simply fill a vacancy.
The move fits a broader moment for the Red Wings, who remain in the middle of trying to build something more sustainable while keeping pace in a tough division. Around the league, cap pressure and contract negotiations are forcing teams to make careful long-term calls, and Detroit appears to be approaching its own off-ice decisions with that same kind of urgency. The next hire will not just matter for the front office chart - it could shape how the franchise resets the way it evaluates talent, priorities, and the next phase of its rebuild. [Read more 🡒]
Moritz Seider Just Strengthened His Case As Detroits Next Franchise Leader
Moritz Seider added another major line to his resume this week, earning The Hockey News Rod Langway Award as the NHLs best defensive defenseman for the 2025-26 season. It is another reminder of how central he has become to the Red Wings, with Seider logging all 82 games, skating more than 25 minutes a night and taking on top competition all season long.
For Detroit, the honor only sharpens the conversation around where Seiders rise leads next. He is already being viewed as the kind of player who can anchor a blue line for years, and the bigger picture now includes a possible Norris Trophy down the road and, eventually, the possibility that he wears the captains C for the Red Wings. [Read more 🡒]