Steve Yzerman and the Red Wings have added a high-caliber center to their rebuild -- and they all but raced to the stage to make the pick.
Detroit took Marco Kasper eighth overall in the NHL Draft Thursday night, almost immediately after Chicago made its pick at No. 7. The Austrian comes to the Wings from the Swedish Hockey League, where he spent the past two seasons playing for Rogle BK.
Asked about the long-term projection for Kasper, Yzerman told ESPN after announcing the pick, "He probably could play all three forward positions, but we draft him as a centerman. We think he has underrated skill and the ability to play in our top six one day. I can't tell you if it's next year or the year after, but we have high hopes for him and are very excited to pick him."
The 6'1 Kasper, who turned 18 in April, was the highest-ranked European center by NHL Central Scouting entering the draft. He's considered a smart, 200-foot player with the potential to add more offense as his game develops. He tallied seven goals and 11 points in 46 games last season -- as a 17-year-old playing mostly against men.
"His strengths include puck carrying and puck possession," draft analyst Meghan Chayka said on ESPN. "He's a play-driver and a strong decision maker. Reads plays well, makes smart decisions offensively and defensively."
Brian Boucher echoed Chayka, calling Kasper a "responsible" player who's "not afraid to go to the high-traffic areas."
"High hockey IQ," said Boucher. "Maybe the one knock on him is, is there a ton of offense in him? But make no mistake, this guy is not going to shy away from contact or the hard areas. I think this a really solid pick."
Yzerman, said Chayka, "got his guy."
