As the pre-season progresses, it's grown harder to argue that 2022 Red Wings first round pick Marco Kasper ought to report to Grand Rapids to open the season

On the latest episode of The Silky Mitten State, my co-host Connor Earegood and I agreed that it's getting harder and harder to argue against Marco Kasper belonging on the Red Wings' opening night roster.  Kasper has enjoyed an excellent training camp and pre-season, showing a poise and assertiveness that was absent from his game at this time last year.  While there may be a certain concern about a young prospect playing a limited role (as opposed to an AHL one that would be more robust), I contended that Detroit owes it to itself, at this stage of the rebuild, to ice the 12 best forwards it has available, and I struggle to see how Kasper wouldn't be counted amongst that number.

Connor and I made that case on Wednesday, then, last night against Ottawa, Kasper bagged a pair of first period goals, only making his case louder.  After the game, coach Derek Lalonde said, "I think just the confidence, managing his game, puck play," when asked what's stood out from his pre-season and training camp after the game. "You guys saw last year [in pre-season], he looked like a deer in the headlights—turning pucks over all over the place, opening himself up to hits. It's a credit for him how much he's developed in a year. Probably a credit to the guys in Grand Rapids. He had a really good camp, and he's an exciting player for us."

When you combine Kasper's performance with that review from his would-be NHL bench boss, it sounds an awful lot like Kasper has risen to the challenge set before him as camp began: be so good they have no choice but to keep you around.

In the video above, you can check out a sample of Connor's and my conversation, then listen to the full show on Spotify or Apple Podcasts:

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