Red Wings Will Face Jets Without Marco Kasper
The Detroit center is sidelined with an upper-body injury for Sunday's matchup.
Updated on Oct. 3, 2026 in Hockey
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Detroit Red Wings center Marco Kasper will miss Sunday's game against the Winnipeg Jets after sustaining an upper-body injury. Carter Mazur is set to make his season debut during the contest.
Why it matters
The team is adjusting its lineup to bolster production at center ice while preventing exhaustion for J.T. Compher and Nate Danielson. These shifts aim to maintain offensive consistency despite the sudden absence of a key playmaker.
Kasper is scheduled for re-evaluation in a couple of days following his injury. The team is managing personnel after a 2-0 loss to the New York Rangers last Friday.
The players
Marco Kasper
A center for the Detroit Red Wings who is currently sidelined due to an upper-body injury.
Carter Mazur
A forward for the Detroit Red Wings who is making his season debut against the Winnipeg Jets.
Dylan Larkin
The captain of the Detroit Red Wings who is managing his recovery to return for Tuesday's game.
Emmitt Finnie
A Detroit Red Wings forward who has shifted positions to help cover the center ice vacancy.
The details
Emmitt Finnie has transitioned from left wing to center to anchor a line with Viktor Arvidsson and Michael Brandsegg-Nygard. Meanwhile, Carter Mazur joins the lineup to skate alongside Nate Danielson and Mason Appleton.
Timeline
The Red Wings played the New York Rangers on Friday.
The team held practice sessions with new line configurations on Saturday.
Sunday's game against the Winnipeg Jets begins at 1 p.m.
Dylan Larkin is expected to return for the game against the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday.
Season Trajectory
These lineup adjustments reflect the Red Wings' attempt to maintain a competitive playoff-contending roster during a high-frequency stretch of games. The ability to integrate prospects like Mazur effectively will determine the team's ability to withstand injury attrition throughout the season.
With Kasper out, the workload at center will be distributed between Emmitt Finnie, J.T. Compher, and Nate Danielson to maintain ice-time balance. Fans should monitor the new line combinations to see if the move to center helps Finnie generate better offensive chemistry with his new wingers.
The takeaway
Maintaining roster flexibility remains critical for NHL teams navigating short-term health setbacks. Fans can expect further lineup rotations as the team balances immediate game needs with the return of key veterans.
Further reading
For more updates on the team, check out the Detroit Hockey section.
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