Prospect Info: #8OA, Marco Kasper

[MBH]

Joe Veleno 2.0?

So... i didn't get the HP guide in Veleno's year.
Below I compare what I imagine Veleno's would have looked like that year vs Kasper's this year
(Ratings out of Nine)

Category	Veleno	Kasper
Hockey Sense	6	8
Compete	6	9
Skill	6	6
Skating	7	8
Misc	7	6

(Misc seems to be heavily based on physical attributes like size)

I think there were already concerns about Veleno's hockey sense and skill. I think his skating was a bit overrated.
Today I'd probably put his skating at 6 and his skill level maybe as low as 5 (average).

I'd say Kasper was more highly regarded.

What I won't do is pencil him in as a center. We've seen that bullshit too much.

 

[MBH]

From EP
Puckhandling 5/9
Hockey Sense 6/9
Physical 7.5/9
EP ranked him 12th.

They compared him to Zach Hyman and Brendan Gallagher.
Scores all his goals near the paint or in the paint. Considered a netfront guy.

Will never be considered "elite" in the skill department, but projects easily above average to above average.

Several EP guys note that he showed more skill playing for Austria than he did for Rogle.

 

[Gniwder]

I wanted Savoie because I think the wings are sorely lacking in playmaking, but equally if they can get good enough wingers, there is no doubt that this is the kind of guy you can win with. In a way its reassuring that Yzerman is looking to build his playoff guys from the draft, but I hope he swings for the fences with skill tomorrow, because apart from C we have pretty good prospect depth and we won't be able to sign them all.

How much video have you watched? Savoie isn't a good playmaker, his passing decisions leave a lot to be desired. Some of it might be on his teammates that are always a step behind, but he dishes Robby Fabbri passes more often than you would like. His hockey IQ isn't that great.

Savoie is a great skater than can score. That is why I wanted him, worst case he plays wing. Kasper is a center, worst case he plays 3C but let's all hope he's as good as D-Boss. The team has spent a lot more time than both of us watching both of these kids, so we'll just have to go with their judgement. Maybe the kid just reminded them of Fabbri too much, lol.

For the record, I had Savoie-Kasper-Nazar in that order, but I'm not upset with this pick.

 

[OgeeOgelthorpe]

 

[Realgud]

The thing I like the most about Kasper that I think could bring him really far is his work ethic and maturity. He seems like a coach's dream. Always willing to learn and play the right way. Felt exactly the same about Raymond but that was in addition to his creativity, skill and intelligence. I think Kasper has shown me flashes of that potential in some of my viewings so I am very curious to see his development. The fact that he got the Steve stamp of approval is definitely something to consider.

 

[ShanahanMan]

I really want to like this pick, but when you’re drafting a forward at 8, and the main ways to describe him are his “compete levels” and “character”, rather than his offensive playmaking abilities or scoring (which seem to be barely mentioned), it’s pretty hard to be excited

This is very similar to how they described Ras, Svech and Veleno (especially Veleno). The “intangibles”. Look how that worked out.

At some point, I think you need to weigh raw talent and skill a bit higher than “he’s a great guy”. Draper tried to show how committed he is by saying Kasper learned Swedish before joining the SHL. While a good story, things like learning a language shouldn’t be factors for deciding draft worthiness or NHL ability.

 

[Preposterone]

They compared him to Zach Hyman and Brendan Gallagher.
Scores all his goals near the paint or in the paint. Considered a netfront guy.

there are multiple clips of kasper ripping clappers past SHL goalies from the high slot/high circle area

 

[OgeeOgelthorpe]

 

[Michael Brand Eggs]

His dad speaks better English than most Americans.

 

[raymond23]

Ugh, reporters just keep asking the same questions over and over.

 

[jaster]

just philosophically speaking give me the guy that could be a top end guy but might bust entirely over the guy that will never be that but has say a 3rd line Center floor with a top 10 pick any day

ceiling is like a billion times more important to me than floor here, all stacking up guys like that will do is lead a team to purgatory

You need a mix. You need to diversify your funds. If you're doing all high-ceiling, boom-or-bust types, you're going to both bust too often and have the wrong mix of play styles. But really, this isn't a binary thing, it's not one (high floor/low ceiling) or the other (low floor/high ceiling). These guys, and their mix of floors and ceilings, are on a spectrum.

This board had almost the same discussion when Larkin was drafted. Holland had far less rope than Yzerman does today, and so the Larkin pick was much more panned by this forum than Kasper has been tonight, but the same main point was being made. Larkin was too safe, too low of a ceiling, not enough skill, probably not top-6, waste of a pick, etc, etc. I don't recall the names people were submitting as better choices than Larkin at 15OA, but unless anyone was clearly saying Pastrnak, all of the detractors were wrong about the Larkin pick. Turns out he was indeed high-floor, but his ceiling was in fact higher than many thought.

 

[lilidk]

Passed on Savoie huh? Idk. We'll see. Don't like it.

My guess Red Wings trying to get bigger and be hard to play against. I expect the same on the second draft day.

 

[lilidk]

Joe Veleno 2.0?

No, Veleno x2

 

[Michael Brand Eggs]

Honestly, people just need to see him play. It'll make a lot more sense that way. People are trying to squeeze blood from a stone with these scouting reports.

 

[Gniwder]

No, Veleno x2

x2 is a 30 pt player, we need Joey x4 or better yet Veleno^2.

 

[ManwithNoIdentity]

Honestly, people just need to see him play. It'll make a lot more sense that way. People are trying to squeeze blood from a stone with these scouting reports.

If you say so, Marco

 

[johan f]

People are complaining about how many points this guy had in the SHL as a 17 year old, he just turned 18 in April. Picked it up in the playoffs.

Yes, scoring points in SHL is not that easy. Not a league with back and forth hockey.

 

[MBH]

Drafting Europe ranked Kasper 4th, behind Slafkovsky, Nemec, and Ostlund...
They put Kasper's value as top 15 (and Ostlund as top 5).
"Inspired, competitive and intelligent forward who can play at different paces."
"While we are fairly certain of his ability to become a strong complementary forward in the National Hockey League, Marco Kasper is not supposed to evolve into an electric, play-driving star, nor into a top scorer at that level"
Projection: Middle-six forward who competes. brings a complete game and can fit with different playing styles and teammates.
Raiting (out of 6)
Skating 4.5
Puck handling 3.5
QUickness of play 4
Possession rate 4
Head for the game 5
Compete Levle 5
Tough/Soft 4

 

[ChadS]

Interesting how neither Yzerman or Draper mentioned Håkan in those interviews but mentioned others like Kronwall and Lidström.

 

[lomekian]

I don't think Mesar or Lambert make it either, but if Any of Kulich, Firkus, Lambert or Mesar are there, that pick should take like 2 seconds to make

Didn't age great this!

 

[Astyanax]

It really does feel like the right pick for Detroit this year.

Now that we’ve got Kasper I’ll warn you guys that I’m going to spam the forum about Leo Carlsson for the 2023 draft.

No bullshit, probably the best Swedish forward prospect since Backstrom. And he’s a 6’3” center.

I love the pick. But you love it so much, you went gay rocky!!?

 

[simonedvinsson]

Ugh, reporters just keep asking the same questions over and over.

Every year, I have one and only one question, and they never ask it. Where was this guy on the team’s draft board? Edvinsson was second on Dallas’ board. Was he second on Detroit’s? First? Fifth? How high would Yzerman have taken Seider? Raymond? Kasper?

Interesting how neither Yzerman or Draper mentioned Håkan in those interviews but mentioned others like Kronwall and Lidström.

I noticed that too. I was waiting for someone to say, “Håkan loves this guy!”, and nobody even mentioned him.

 

[lomekian]

Man I gotta say, hearing all this talk about how he doesn’t have the best offensive abilities BUT has great “hockey iq” and “compete levels” is giving me major flashbacks to the Rasmussen pick.

Don't know why - Ras was a bullying scorer with his size, but didn't skate that well, didn't have a great motor, and was not raved about nearly as much for compete or IQ. Besides being Cs who can score garbage goals and deflections, they are very different prospects

Draper was

So was Seider

No one really wants a Draper at 8overall, but a selke winner with 3 cup rings isn't a disaster ;-)

 

[ChadS]

I noticed that too. I was waiting for someone to say, “Håkan loves this guy!”, and nobody even mentioned him.

So maybe this is a "Draper Pick"...

Jokes aside, Håkan was all smiles when handing Kasper the Red Wings jersey and shaking his hand on stage.

 

[jibbz]

11points in 46 games sounds gross to me....

In the SHL as a 17 year old, and he had 6 points in 13 games in the playoffs
Remind me again, how many points did Raymond have in his draft season in the SHL?