When last we heard from Detroit Red Wings forward Marco Kasper, he was hobbling around on crutches to protect an ailing knee. That injury prevented him from playing for Austria at the IIHF World Championship.
That was then. This is now.
Kasper is back on the ice, taking part in high-level training with other pro hockey players in his hometown of Klagenfurt, Austria. Among the players joining Kasper in these training sessions is fellow NHLer J.J. Peterka.
The players are enduring a daily training regimen of nine hours – five hours on the ice and four hours of off-ice conditioning. At the helm of these sessions is former NHLer Yannick Dube, today a renowned skills coach.
Kasper also intends to once again play in the Sunshine League, a popular Austrian summer league. He will be playing for the Lendhaffen Sea Lions. Other prominent names playing in the league include Peterka, Mario Kempe, Damian Clara, and Michael Grabner
Red Wings Pick Invited to Elite Camp
The nine best goaltenders in Czechia born in either 2007 or 2008 will be participating in an elite skills camp with national team coaches. Among the invitees to the camp is Red Wings draftee Michal Oršulák. The training camp will last from Sunday, July 26th to Tuesday, July 28th.
Oršulák, 18, was 28-4-4 last season with the WHL Prince Albert Raiders. He posted a 2.22 GAA and .907 save percentage. The Red Wings selected the 6-foot-4, 225-pound netminder 79th overall in last month’ NHL Entry Draft,
Lidstrom Recognized
Swedish website Hockey Sverige is picking All-Decade Teams of Swedish NHLers. Two players with Red Wings connections populate the 1990s squad.
Naturally, one of those is defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom. The Hockey Hall of Famer broke into the NHL with the Red Wings in 1991. He won seven Norris Trophies, four Stanley Cups, and a Conn Smythe Trophy during his time in Detroit.
The Red Wings connection is admittedly tenuous. It’s Hall of Fame forward Daniel Alfredsson. Alfredsson played 18 NHL seasons – 17 with the Ottawa Senators and a farewell campaign with Detroit in 2013-14.