Boston Bruins (1980-1989)
Following back to back 100+ point season he was chosen 81st overall by the Boston Bruins in the 1980 NHL Entry Draft. Kasper never played in the minors immediately earning a spot on the Bruins roster, during his rookie year in the 1980–81 season Kasper appeared in 76 games and scoring 21 goals and 35 assists for 57 total points. [3] Kasper also quickly emerged as one of the league’s best checking players of his day. Despite Kasper’s physical stature not being impressive (5’8″ and 175 lbs), he was known for showing tremendous will and effort throughout his career not letting anything get in his way. [4]
In his second season in 1981–82 Kasper continued to show off his defensive/checking abilities while also having a solid scoring touch having another 20 goal season along with 31 assists in 73 total games. [3] For his defensive prowess Kasper was awarded the Frank J. Selke Trophy as the leagues best defensive forward, beating out Bob Gainey who had won the trophy the previous four seasons. [5] [6] During the playoffs Kasper scored his first 3 postseason goals along with 6 assists, however the Bruins were eliminated by Quebec in the divisional round. [3]
Kasper would miss most of the 1982-83 season with torn capsule in left shoulder. The injury required arthroscopic surgery to remove torn cartilage on Nov. 9, 1982, and then major reconstructive surgery on Dec. 7, 1982, Kasper continued to experience trouble in four games played with Boston from Nov. 21-27, 1983. He did not return till Boston's March 24, 1983, game vs. St. Louis. [7] [8] He finished the season only appearing in 24 games scoring 2 goals and 6 assists. [3] Kasper made a full comeback during the postseason as the Bruins defeated Quebec in the however he then suffered a concussion, during Game 6 of Boston's Adams Division finals series vs. Buffalo on April 20, 1983. [7] The Bruins were then eliminated by the Islanders in the semifinals.
Kasper would also miss most of the following year during the 1983-84 season with separated left shoulder, an injury suffered during Boston's Nov. 24, 1983, game vs. Quebec. The injury required surgery on Jan. 7, 1984, it was re-aggravated when Kasper returned to action too early in February 1984. After re-aggravating the injury, he did not return to Boston's lineup until March 20, 1984. [7] He finished the year with 3 goals and 11 assists in 27 games. [3]
Kasper made a full recovery and managed to stay healthy during the 1984-85, scoring the bruins only hat trick of the year on Nov. 25, 1984, vs. Montreal. [7] Kasper would also return to form as one of the top defensive forwards and finished the with 77 total appearances scoring 16 goals and 24 assists. [3] However the Bruins were eliminated in the first round of the postseason. [9] The 1985-86 seen Kasper appear in all 80 games for the only time in his career scoring 40 points once again with 17 goals and 23 assists. [3] He and the Bruins once again faced first round elimination in the playoffs.
Kasper missed the first game of the 1986-87 season to go back to Montreal so he could be with his wife as she gave birth to their first child. [7] From here he did not miss another game and was put on the same line as Cam Neely the two would stay on this line till Kaspers tenure with the Bruins came to an end. [7] In 79 total games Kasper scored 20 goals and 30 assists, [3] but once again he and the Bruins met defeate in the first round. The following year in 1987–88 Kasper would have his best statistical with season with 70 points in 76 games (26 goals 44 assists). [3] During the postseason he would contribute 13 points 7 goals and 6 assists in 23 games as the Bruins made reached the Stanley Cup Finals, where they were defeated by the Edmonton Oilers, 4–0 with one tie. He finished the season runner up to Guy Carbonneau for Selke Trophy. [10]
During his time with the Bruins Kasper’s job was to shadow Wayne Gretzky when the team played Edmonton due to his defensive excellence. During these match ups he would gain notoriety for being one of the few players that could effectively shut Gretzky down with his shadowing strategy. [11] [12]
LA Kings (1989-1991)
After playing more than half of the 1988-89 season with the Bruins Kasper was traded to the Los Angeles Kings for Bobby Carpenter. During this tenure he would enjoy some success with the Kings playing with Wayne Gretzky and Bernie Nicholls. [4] [13] That year Kasper appeared in 78 total games finishing with 19 goals and 31 assists. [3] Kasper scored 6 points in 11 postseason games as the Kings were eliminated in the divisional round.
The 1989-90 season seen Kasper make 77 appearances for the Kings netting 17 goals and 28 assists as he and the Kings were once again second round exits in the playoffs. [3] Kasper missed part of the following season with ruptured sinus cavity and fractured eye socket, which he suffered during a January 2, 1991, game vs. the New York Rangers. [7] He would go on to finish the year making 67 appearances scoring 9 goals and 19 assists. During the postseason he scored 10 points in 10 games as the Kings were eliminated by Edmonton in the divisional round. [3]
