DETROIT – Marco Kasper has progressed considerably from the player Detroit Red Wings coach Derek Lalonde said looked like a deer in the headlights a year ago in training camp. Kasper capped his 2024 preseason Friday with a two-goal performance in a 4-3 overtime loss to the Ottawa Senators at Little Caesars Arena.

Detroit Red Wings coach Derek Lalonde says he has never undestood the drama surrounding who makes the roster coming out of training camp. “Grand Rapids is two hours away,” Lalonde said.

The Wings dressed a lineup that will largely be the one they field when outcomes matter, along with a handful of up-and-comers. One of the latter, Marco Kasper, delivered two goals in the opening 10 minutes against the Ottawa Senators,

Kasper scored at 1:24 by corralling a loose puck in the Senators zone, breaking in along and flipping a shot past Anton Forsberg. Kasper made it 2-0 at 8:32 with a snipe off the rush from the top of the face-off circle.

Kasper has been a standout since early in training camp and he’s carried it into the preseason. He had an assist in his exhibition debut, but really the story of that game for him had more to do with how assertive and confident he looked, especially on the penalty kill.

The Red Wings failed to protect a 3-1 lead in the third period in a 4-3 OT preseason loss against the Senators at Little Caesars Arena.

Marco Kasper scored twice, but the Detroit Red Wings couldn’t hold off the Ottawa Senators in a 4-3 preseason overtime loss at Little Caesars Arena on Friday night. The Red Wings opened the scoring at 1:24 of the first period.