Marco Kasper drafted by the Detroit Red Wings

The Klagenfurt native, who came through the EC KAC youth system and has been with Swedish club Rögle BK since the 2020/2021 season, Marco Kasper became the fourth Austrian, after Thomas Vanek (drafted fifth overall by the Buffalo Sabres in 2006), Michael Grabner (No. 14, 2006, Vancouver Canucks) and Marco Rossi (No. nine, 2020, Minnesota Wild), to be selected in the first round of the 2022 NHL Draft at the Bell Centre in Montreal, going eighth overall to the Detroit Red Wings.

Kasper is therefore, after Vanek, who scored goals in Detroit during the 2016/2017 and 2018/2019 seasons, the second-highest drafted Austrian player in ice hockey history.

Immediately after the announcement, Kasper gave a composed interview on NHL TV broadcaster Sportsnet: "I am grateful to have been selected by such a great franchise, with so many good players in the past. It is a great honour for me!" Kasper thanked his family and his previous teams, Rögle BK and KAC.

The Klagenfurt native, who won the Champions Hockey League with Rögle in 2022, caught the attention of NHL scouts with consistently strong performances in the Swedish SHL. The 18-year-old centre also impressed for the ÖEHV team at the World Championship in Finland in May as they secured their place in the top division, setting up two goals with his assists.

These performances boosted Kasper's chances of being drafted early, and the Red Wings ultimately secured the rights to the young ÖEHV prospect.

Marco Kasper's reaction after being selected by the Red Wings: "It is simply an incredible feeling to be drafted by such a cool team as the Detroit Red Wings. It still feels unreal at the moment and it will take a few more days to realise it. My dream has come true, but it is only one step in my career. I will continue to work hard on myself!"

The Red Wings are the successor team to the Detroit Cougars, who existed from 1926 to 1930, and the Detroit Falcons, who existed from 1930 to 1932, and are one of the NHL's so-called Original Six teams. The team colours have been red and white since 1928.

The Red Wings have brought the Stanley Cup to the Motor City of Detroit eleven times, which is also known as "Hockeytown". This makes the franchise the most successful from the United States in the entire NHL. The Red Wings won their most recent title in 2008.

Vinzenz Rohrer and Luca Auer not yet picked

The Vorarlberg native Vinzenz Rohrer of the Ottawa 67's, as well as the Styrian Luca Auer from the Red Bull Salzburg youth system, who has repeatedly been linked with the draft in recent days, were not selected by any team in the first round and must hope to be drafted in rounds two to seven, which take place on Friday (11:00 local time/17:00 in Austria).

The first overall pick was Slovak left winger Juraj Slafkovsky, who was selected first overall in the 2022 NHL Draft by the Montréal Canadiens. Slafkovsky's compatriot Simon Nemec was drafted No. 2 by the New Jersey Devils. Centre Logan Cooley (USA) was picked No. 3 by the Arizona Coyotes.

NHL DRAFT 2022 FIRST-ROUND PICKS

The 2022 NHL Draft is taking place at the Bell Centre in Montréal (Canada). The first round was held on Thursday, 7 July (19:00 ET/Friday, 8 July, 01:00 in Austria), with rounds two to seven following on Friday, 8 July (11:00 ET/8 July, 17:00 in Austria).

1st. Montréal Canadiens: Juraj Slafkovsky (left wing, Slovakia)
2nd. New Jersey Devils: Simon Nemec (defenceman, Slovakia)
3rd. Arizona Coyotes: Logan Cooley (centre, USA)
4th. Seattle Kraken: Shane Wright (centre, Canada)
5th. Philadelphia Flyers: Cutter Gauthier (left wing, USA)
6th. Columbus Blue Jackets: David Jiricek (defenceman, Czech Republic)
7th. Chicago Blackhawks: Kevin Korchinski (defenceman, Canada)
8th. Detroit Red Wings: Marco Kasper (centre, Austria)
9th. Buffalo Sabres: Matthew Savoie (centre, Canada)
10th. Anaheim Ducks: Pavel Mintyukov (defenceman, Russia)
11th. Arizona Coyotes: Conor Geekie (centre, Canada)
12th. Columbus Blue Jackets: Denton Mateychuk (defenceman, Canada)
13th. Chicago Blackhawks: Frank Nazar (centre, USA)
14th. Winnipeg Jets: Rutger Mcgroarty (right wing, USA)
15th. Vancouver Canucks: Jonathan Lekkerimaki (right wing, Sweden)
16th. Buffalo Sabres: Noah Ostlund (centre, Sweden)
17th. Nashville Predators: Joakim Kemell (right wing, Finland)
18th. Dallas Stars: Lian Bichsel (defenceman, Switzerland)
19th. Minnesota Wild: Liam Ohgren (left wing, Sweden)
20th. Washington Capitals: Ivan Miroshnichenko (left wing, Russia)
21st. Pittsburgh Penguins: Owen Pickering (defenceman, Canada)
22nd. Anaheim Ducks: Nathan Gaucher (centre, Canada)
23rd. St. Louis Blues: Jimmy Snuggerud (right wing, USA)
24th. Minnesota Wild: Danila Yurov (right wing, Russia)
25th. Chicago Blackhawks: Sam Rinzel (defenceman, USA)
26th. Montréal Canadiens: Filip Mesar (right wing, Slovakia)
27th. San Jose Sharks: Filip Bystedt (centre, Sweden)
28th. Buffalo Sabres: Jiri Kulich (centre, Czech Republic)
29th. Arizona Coyotes: Maveric Lamoureux (defenceman, Canada)
30th. Winnipeg Jets: Brad Lambert (centre, Finland)
31th. Tampa Bay Lightning: Isaac Howard (left wing, USA)
32th. Edmonton Oilers: Reid Schaefer (left wing, Canada)