Why wouldn't he be able to start on 2nd/3rd line center with copp on the wing? Then they can interchange when needed as Lalonde was trying to do that when he was in the lineup.
Because Yzerman will plug the holes, he's not going to give spots to Kasper & Mazur. Red Wings ain't tanking anymore, they are going to fight for playoff spot.
Look at Söderblom, he looked good at camp but after 20 games it became clear he's not ready yet. There's a risk that same could happen to Kasper & Mazur, then both go to GR and Red Wings are left with a massive hole in the middle and/or on the wing. Where the replacement can be found, when at least 28-30 teams are fighting for the points?
Holes need to be plugged now and if Kasper & Mazur can outplay vets from the top-6 that's great, it gives us more depth and we get rid off extra weight.
NHL is still marathon, not a sprint. Raymond looked good the first 50-60 games and gassed out the last 20 games. Same thing happened to Berggren, looked good for 50 games and gassed out 20 games. Kasper looked gassed out the 10-15 games in Rögle this season, that injury might have been a factor for sure. Second risk by just giving role, would be this. I have no doubt that Kasper & Mazur could look good for 50-60 games but what about after that, the most crucial part of the season? There is very strong chance that Kasper & Mazur could be gassed out by then. How are theygoing to help the team then ? If they are just trying to survive?
If the plugs are signed, there won't be this many question. Red Wings get's to have deep enough team to fight for a playoff spot, injuries won't matter that much when we have have Kasper, Mazur, Söderblom(top-9), Czarnik, Luff, Hirose(4th line) to plug those holes when needed.
At the same time in GR those call ups would mean increase of a role and responsibility to Lombardi, Hanas, Doucet etc.
It's a win-win situation to start Kasper and Mazur in GR.
That’s a bit dismissive of Raymond. He was a Calder contender and arguably our 2nd best forward that year. He wasn’t just gifted the NHL job.
Wel i did cut some corners with that statement but Vrana's injury opened role for Raymond and he capitalized immediately. Injuries are the way for Kasper and Mazur to break in to the NHL next season.