I wasn't sure where he was ultimately going to end up as: was he going to just be his floor of a physical, shutdown depth C, like a John Madden or Craig Conroy. Was he going to be more of an agitating pest who was better served with less responsibilities and play more into his in-your-face style like a bigger Marchand, or Bertuzzi? Or was he going to be something else?
From the brief handful of games at the pro level: he's something else. He has been tossed into a 2/3 C role, and really the absolutely best thing for DET, is that they can move Copp and Compher together and not utterly wreck the other line. But the kid has been asked to step in and at no point in this run have I been like "Oh, he's in way over his head". He has not looked out of place at all taking Middle 6 C responsibility at all. What is clear is that he is absolutely supposed to be a Center in the league. He puck pursuit and pressure deep in the zone, and net front is really noticeable. His speed and skating to get north south and back into the middle of the defensive zone is also really solid.
So where's the offensive upside? I think its there for a couple of reasons. He does what all good centers do, he makes his wingers look more dangerous which I can absolutely say that Burger is buzzing a lot more with Kasper than I've seen him outside of the hot run from a season and half ago with Copp. Similarly, despite thinking Tarasenko is literally the deadest of weight, he looks "more dangerous" since being moved to Kasper. I don't think he's trying any harder and playing any differently, but Kasper is getting him the puck at better times in motion or in space. The other major point here is that Kasper looked better in the AHL offensively. Weird, I know. But he always has kind of played a...meat and potatoes game. Not a lot of flash to it but effective and to the point. A lot of the more higher skill moves he pulled off in the AHL, I haven't seen him even attempt yet. I think he is just trying to keep things very simple and fundamental. Sound hockey, and not making any unnecessary moves. The guy will open up more and more as he gets more comfortable and you'll begin to see some of his offense. But I would expect for the more immediate future for him to get on the sheet grinding around the crease and cleaning up rebounds. That does not mean he's not capable. Know that Kasper is a lot more Kesler and than he is Copp.
Can't be more excited about this kid