Red Wings 2022 first-round pick likely out for rest of season

The Detroit Red Wings received some disappointing news on Wednesday regarding one of their young prospects. According to head coach Derek Lalonde, forward Marco Kasper is unlikely to play for the remainder of the season due to a lower-body injury.

The news is a setback for Kasper, who was hoping to finish the season strong during his first NHL call-up. It also represents a missed opportunity for the Red Wings to evaluate one of their prospects at the NHL level, albeit for a short time.

Kasper, still just 18, was selected by the Red Wings as the eighth overall pick of the 2022 NHL Draft. The Austrian-born forward had been playing with Rögle BK of the SHL this season before coming to North America, where he tallied eight goals and 15 assists in 53 games of league play. Kasper played 14:59 in his NHL debut against the Toronto Maple Leafs last Sunday before leaving the game late.

The Red Wings are not yet mathematically eliminated from playoff contention, but as they’re able to finish the season with a maximum of 89 points, their playoff hopes are essentially zero. Kasper will now try to gain some stability and comfortability with the Red Wings during training camp in a handful of months, hoping to contend for a roster spot in 2023-24.