Marco Kasper’s stat line from Detroit’s 4-2 win over the Sharks might not jump off the page at first glance-an empty-net goal, a slick assist, five shots-but don’t let the simplicity fool you. This was a performance that said a lot more than the box score could ever capture.
For Kasper, that empty-netter wasn’t just a goal-it was a weight lifted. It was his first tally in nearly 11 weeks, and while it didn’t come with the game on the line, it came with something just as important: timing. After a long stretch without finding the back of the net, this one could be the spark he’s been searching for.
But what really stood out was how engaged he was from the opening faceoff. Kasper didn’t just show up-he was everywhere.
He was physical, he was fast, he was relentless. And when he set up J.T.
Compher with a smart, skillful assist, it was a reminder of the offensive upside that made the Red Wings so high on him in the first place.
It’s the kind of game Detroit’s been waiting to see again from Kasper, who turned heads last season with a strong second half that led to a 19-goal rookie campaign. The hope now? That this is the start of another surge.
Head coach Todd McLellan certainly sees the signs. “Most importantly for Marco… I know his game has been coming,” he said.
“Maybe not on the score sheet regularly, but his physicality, his tenacity, his skating. He looks like a different player right now.”
McLellan didn’t sugarcoat the journey Kasper’s been on. “I don’t know if he hit rock bottom and built himself back up, but he’s done a real good job.”
And even during the scoring drought, the Red Wings never lost faith. Kasper may have only six points in his first 47 games this season, but his impact has never been in question.
He leads the team with 107 hits-proof of how engaged he’s been even when the goals weren’t coming. That kind of effort, that kind of presence, is why he’s stayed in the NHL and not been sent down to the AHL.
The bench knows it too. When Lucas Raymond had the chance to bury the empty-netter himself, he didn’t take it.
Instead, he passed it to Kasper, knowing exactly what it would mean to his teammate. That kind of unselfishness doesn’t just happen-it’s a reflection of the belief this team has in Kasper.
“When your teammates are still rooting for you, that’s important,” McLellan said. “And the guys are pulling for him on the bench.
They have his back. They know he’s an important piece on the team.
And, tonight he got rewarded with some points and a goal. But his overall game was impressive.”
Raymond, who picked up three assists on the night, summed it up perfectly: these two points could be “huge” for Kasper.
And he’s right. Because sometimes, all it takes is one moment to get a player going again. And if this is the start of Kasper rediscovering the form that made him a breakout rookie, the Red Wings might be getting a key piece of their lineup back at just the right time.