Kasper's leadership makes him stand out as 2022 NHL Draft prospect

The 2022 NHL Draft is scheduled to be held July 7-8. Every two weeks, NHL.com will take a closer look at some of the draft-eligible players to watch.

Marco Kasper looks forward to another chance to represent Austria in a leadership role when the 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship is scheduled to be held Aug. 9-20 in Edmonton.
The tournament for players under 20 began in Edmonton and Red Deer, Alberta, on Dec. 26 but was postponed after four days of play when the United States, Czechia and Russia each had to forfeit a preliminary-round game after players tested positive for COVID-19.
Kasper (6-foot-1, 183 pounds), who was Austria's captain in December, has plenty of motivation to deliver any way possible in his NHL Draft-eligible season.
He is No. 7 on
NHL Central Scouting's midterm ranking of International skaters
eligible for the 2022 draft.
"As a team we saw that we still have a lot of room to improve but that we are on the right path to becoming a better hockey country," Kasper said. "As a player, it's always great to play against the best players in your age and to see where you have room to improve."
The 17-year-old forward, who can play center or wing, had no points in two games at the time the World Juniors was postponed, but statistics weren't that important to him.
"It's always an honor to represent my country so I always consider playing for my national team," he said. "Serving as captain for my country makes me really proud. I think leadership is really important and I try to lead by example on and off the ice with hard work."
Austria joined the United States, Sweden, Germany, and Switzerland in Group A. It will remain in that bracket when the tournament is scheduled to resume.
Kasper has scored 11 points (seven goals, four assists) and has averaged 11:44 of ice time in 46 games in his second season with Rogle of the Swedish Hockey League, the top professional men's league in Sweden. His seven goals are the most by a player 18 or younger in the SHL.
Rogle lost 2-1 to Oskarshamn in Game 1 of the quarterfinal round of the SHL playoffs Thursday.
"I decided to play in Sweden because I feel like I can develop really well there," Kasper said. "I'm lucky to play on a really good team so I can watch how professional the top players are on and off the ice. They can really push me to be the best player I can be and help develop the right way."

Kasper scored six points (two goals, four assists) in 12 games to help Rogle to its first Champions Hockey League title with a 2-1 win against Tappara of Liiga, the top professional league in Finland, on March 1. The Champions Hockey League is a European tournament consisting of 32 teams from first-tier leagues within their respective countries.
The tournament provided Kasper a great chance to showcase his game in Europe, playing on a line with veteran forward Ludvig Larsson, who finished tied for second among all CHL scorers with 14 points.
"My strengths are my hockey sense and my really high compete level and work ethic," Kasper said. "I still need to work on my shot. I really enjoy watching Nathan MacKinnon (Colorado Avalanche) play because of his explosive game."
Kasper began playing hockey when he was 3 years old. His father, Peter, was a defenseman who played professional hockey in Austria for more than 15 seasons and represented the country at the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics.
"Dad helps me a lot with hockey and life and he told me to not think too much about the draft and to just concentrate on developing my game," Kasper said. "It has always been a dream of mine to get drafted and to play in the NHL, so it would be great to be a first-round pick. But when I get drafted, I'm going to work really hard to make it to the NHL."
PROSPECTS ON THE RADAR (listed alphabetically):
Jagger Firkus, RW, Moose Jaw (WHL): Firkus (5-10, 153), No. 33 on
NHL Central Scouting's midterm ranking of North American skaters
, is tied for 11th in the Western Hockey League with 35 goals and tied for eighth with 78 points in 62 games. The 17-year-old had a goal and an assist and was named player of the game for Team White at the CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game in Kitchener, Ontario, on March 23.
"He's been a pleasant surprise for me," said John Williams of Central Scouting. "I only saw him once in the WHL**