Here's a translation of a pretty long interview that Kasper has just given to his hometown newspaper here in Austria, which I thought might be of interest to people here.
Q: Your first full season in the NHL now lies behind you. What would you say in summary?
Kasper: Well, I still feel it. But for me it's not exhausting because I simply like to be on the ice and play hockey. During the season you just need to be careful to rest and recover. Short workouts before and after matches, for example, in order to not lose muscle. Even as a young guy you need to invest a whole lot to stay on such a high level for an entire season. But that doesn't change the fact that I'm extremely looking forward to playing with the national team. I had one week to get used to it a bit.
Q: Detroit coach Todd McLellan has praised you, calling you a 200-foot player, with a strong presence everywhere on the ice, quote: 'he plays our zone, the neutral zone and offensive zone'. So you invest a lot. How do you manage that physicality during a long season?*
K: When you're a young player you have to try and stay in the league. That only works if you're responsible defensively and pay attention to the details. It's the only way to get into the position to establish yourself and remain on the roster. To be honest it's always been my strength to play well at both ends of the ice. It's challenging, for sure. But you need to constantly work on it.
Q: McLellan has singled you out for praise a couple of times. How do you handle that?
K: You don't even realise it much. He's a great guy, in any case, and a great coach. He expects much from us, but also finds the right words to motivate us. We have great communication.
Q: After two games in the AHL you have been called up to the NHL team and remained there for the entire season. Was there a moment when you realised 'I'm going to stay here'?
K: That's difficult to answer because the first half of the season was a rollercoaster. I played well, but that didn't translate into scoring any points. I had more time on ice, then less, played in all lines. As a team, it was similar - it didn't always go the way we wanted. It was certainly helpful that we started to win once I got to play in the first line. In such a case the coach doesn't make changes anymore. And as a team we grew in confidence. We felt that, and even won eight matches in a row. But the fact remains: you can never be too sure of yourself, and have to give everything during training and in the games. The coaches take note of that, you get the corresponding feedback during video analysis, and your teammates see that as well.
Q: Speaking of video - you say you give everything, and yet get 'dissected' during analysis. What does that mean for a young player?
K: As an athlete you're getting prepared for that from an early age. On the elite level nuances are crucial, and you will always find something that you can improve on. Maybe you're happy with a good game for a short while. But on the other hand I know very well what areas I have to work on. That can be a positive thing, too, because you realize there's still potential. I'm able to deal with that well, and I like to watch my own performances on video.
Q: What is the performance review like?
K: It's honest. Video doesn't lie, after all (laughs). You feel it yourself, and then are being shown the same thing in the rink during video analysis. That's good, in order to let go of something, or of course to learn from it.
Q: Have you ever felt you've been unfairly criticized?
K: That's more from outside. The coaches see you every day, you learn much from each other and about each other. They know what's up. But even in the NHL you exchange opinions during discussion, and you're allowed to express your thoughts and points of view. That's helping everybody.
Q: Are young players being taken seriously?
K: In the video room the analysis happens regarding overall impression, tactics, and style of play, Your own team's and the opponent's. I only watch my own shifts with the video coach or the assistant coach. That's when conversation happens.
Q: How do tactics in the NHL differ from your previous time in Sweden?
K: In part very much, as regards execution. But not so much concerning basic principles. With Detroit, we have tried to get as many shots as possible on goal, from every angle. In Sweden we have paid more attention to puck possession. It was more cautious there, avoiding to shoot from difficult angles.**
Q: How many strategic templates does Detroit have in order to change the style of play?
K: Generally we work with one system. But in defense we have several possibilities. Of course we pay attention to how the opponent is set up, and what actions we can take against that. In offense it's similar, using different kinds of forecheck. It might not be obvious to everyone, but nothing happens by chance. The right tactics against any opponent, and their execution, are crucial.
Q: What determines victory or defeat?
K: A lot, in 82 games (laughs). Frequently, it's puck battles, face offs, or moving your feet in order to hem in the opponent - we especially try to catch the opponent off guard by taking a lot of shots. Sometimes, it's just luck, of course, but in most cases the better players will make the difference.
Q: It is often said how important it is for a team to perform well over a long period.
K: Absolutely. Maybe that's the very reason we didn't manage to qualify for the playoffs. We followed up a string of wins with a string of defeats. That doesn't happen to the top teams, they don't have several off nights per season.
Q: Detroit styles itself as hockey town, hockey is of importance there. Your experience with that?
K: I like it a lot. The arena is always full, the fans are great. Most players live a bit outside the city. Downtown is really beautiful. In your daily routine you realise where you are from time to time. But the whole area has 4 million inhabitants. That's a lot of people, and not everyone you meet is a Red Wing fan. I was impressed by how many fans are at the away games, no matter where.
Q: What is life in the NHL like, as 'first class' as it is?
K: Pretty cool. You're taking a private plane to the away games, you see a lot of cities in North America - a lot of different cultures, or when you suddenly encounter a city like Las Vegas in the middle of the desert, with all those lights. That's impressive. And to enter the NHL arenas with the winged wheel on your chest, to have teammates like Patrick Kane, or to play against Alex Ovechkin - to be able to be part of that is extremely cool.
Q: What distinguishes NHL superstars like Ovechkin, Sidney Crosby, Connor McDavid, etc.? Their presence on the ice?
K: That Ovechkin immediately scored when I got onto the ice (laughs). No, seriously, they're just incredibly good. Or Leon Draisaitl, who suddenly pulled away from me with two, three strides, and scored. That's when I actually did think 'uh'. But nevertheless you want to win against those players as well.
Q: This season you've played on the wing and as center. Where did you feel more at ease?
K: I like to play center. But I need to work on my face offs. Even though I do enjoy standing across the other center on the face off dot. But I believe I can show my qualities in both positions. As a center you have a lot of responsibilities, and my coaches have trusted me to fulfill them. And I absolutely want to pay back that trust.
Q: Experts say you're a very noticeable player on the ice.
K: I always strive to give everything on the ice, be it in the NHL or with the national team. With or without the puck. That's the way I play. You can't always create something. But then you have to at least finish a check, win a puck battle, win a face off, or break up an opponent's play.
Q: As an 'in-your-face' player, there's more risk for you to get roped into altercations, isn't there?
K: I'm prepared for that, but shouldn't be looking for fights. I play hard, that can always result in something.
Q: You inevitably have to deal with defensive giants. Are you ever afraid?
K: No. You just have to know who's on the ice (grins). There are a couple of players where it could get dangerous. But of course I look at the line-ups. You know that some players are looking for a fight and play dirty. You just have to know that. I'm not afraid, but prepared for such guys.
Q: Your contract in Detroit runs for two more seasons. Your outlook?
K: I can only focus on the day to day. There are no certainties in the NHL.
Q: Regarding the World Championship, you will be Austria's only NHL player there. What expectations do you have?
K: I'm incredibly proud to wear the eagle on my chest. Well, not Villach's eagle but the Austrian one (chuckles)***. We have a great team, the boys are marvelous, we're having a lot of fun. I would have loved to be there last year when they won against Finland (3-2), or when they accomplished that comeback against Canada (6-6 after being 1-6 down). I'm very much looking forward to Stockholm.
* yeah he's asking about the very thing Kasper just answered. It's not the only question that's borderline inane. Journalists are the same worldwide.
** he must be talking about McLellan's system here, because that was emphatically not the case for the Detroit matches I've watched in the Lalonde era.
***Kasper hails from Klagenfurt, eternal rival of fellow Carinthian city Villach, whose emblem is an eagle, just like on Austria's crest.
Smart kid.
