Sophomore slump is plaguing one Red Wings youngster harder than ever
Photo credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-Imagn Images
A young Detroit Red Wings player is currently in a tough stretch, with the sophomore slump in full effect.
Marco Kasper impressed a lot of people in Detroit last season, scoring 19 goals and 18 assists in his first NHL campaign.
At the end of the season, Kasper knew he had a good year and that having another good one would be much harder:
"I know it's going to be hard next year. I personally feel like I had a pretty good year, but it's going to be really hard to come back and do just like that and even improve what I want."
Little did he know that's exactly what would end up happening to him.
After nine games, he has one goal and a minus-4 +/-.
Marco Kasper Currently Going Through Sophomore Slump In Detroit
Developing in the NHL is not easy. After the rookie year, where players are more often allowed to express themselves and show their personality on the ice, coaches expect a lot more from them in their second season.
Overcoaching players must be avoided, especially in the first season. After that year, it's not uncommon for coaches to ask for more defensively from young players.
Recent comments from his head coach, Todd McLellan, reflected that exactly:
"Marco has some nights not consistently delivered a complete, two-way game.
We're not completely evaluating him on offense. The complete game is how we evaluate him."
We're not completely evaluating him on offense. The complete game is how we evaluate him."
But the coach firmly believes production will come for the young player:
"He's had some opportunities. Breakaway the other night in Buffalo. It'll go in for him eventually.
I don't know if he's notoriously a little bit of a slow starter as far as offense goes. We talked about it a bit, but I'm confident he will hit the scoresheet at some point.
The more competitive he is, the more snot, I guess, that he brings to his game, the better he is. And I thought we got a little more out of that in New York than we did in Buffalo."
I don't know if he's notoriously a little bit of a slow starter as far as offense goes. We talked about it a bit, but I'm confident he will hit the scoresheet at some point.
The more competitive he is, the more snot, I guess, that he brings to his game, the better he is. And I thought we got a little more out of that in New York than we did in Buffalo."
As for Kasper himself, he knows what to do to get out of that slump: keep working hard.
Here's what he said about his situation:
"I think through hard work and doing the right things, you get on the good side of things. And that's just what I'm trying to do.
It's just work hard and we'll figure it out."
It's just work hard and we'll figure it out."
Kasper and the Wings will be back in action tomorrow against the St. Louis Blues.
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