Steve Kasper

Steve Kasper
Kasper with the Boston Bruins in 1980
Born (1961-09-28) September 28, 1961
Saint-Lambert, Quebec, Canada
Height 5 ft 8 in (173 cm)
Weight 175 lb (79 kg; 12 st 7 lb)
Position Centre
Shot Left
Played for Boston Bruins
Los Angeles Kings
Philadelphia Flyers
Tampa Bay Lightning
NHL draft 81st overall, 1980
Boston Bruins
Playing career 1980–1993

Stephen Neil Kasper (born September 28, 1961) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey forward who played thirteen seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Boston Bruins, Los Angeles Kings, Philadelphia Flyers and Tampa Bay Lightning. Kasper won the Frank J. Selke Trophy as top defensive forward during his second season in the NHL. He moved into coaching following his playing career, serving as the Bruins' head coach during the 1995–96 and 1996–97 seasons.

Playing career

Kasper began his hockey career with the Verdun Eperviers and the Sorel Black Hawks in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. After topping the 100 point mark twice during the 1978–79 and 1979–80 seasons. He was chosen 81st overall by the Boston Bruins in the 1980 NHL Entry Draft. Kasper immediately earned a spot on the roster, playing a total of 76 games and scoring 51 points during the 1980–81 season. During his second year he emerged as one of the best checking centers of the game and was subsequently awarded the Frank J. Selke Trophy in 1981–82. 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. He 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. He would make a full recovery the following year appearing in 77 games and continued to be a significant part of the team. Scoring the bruins only hat trick of the 1984-85 season on Nov. 25, 1984, vs. Montreal. Kasper would then continue to be a top defensive player for the bruins for the next 2 seasons. Then in 1987–88, Kasper would have his best statistical with 70 points in 76 games (26 goals 44 assists) As the Bruins made it to 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. After playing half of the next season with the Bruins Kasper was traded to the Los Angeles Kings for Bobby Carpenter in 1988–89. Kasper enjoyed some success with the Kings playing with Wayne Gretzky and Bernie Nicholls before being traded to the Philadelphia Flyers in 1991–92. He played a for Philadelphia in 1991–92 and a quarter of the 1992-93 season before in being traded again to the Tampa Bay Lightning. Kasper played in 47 games with the Bolts retiring at the end of the season.[1]

Even though Kasper’s physical stature wasn’t impressive only being 5’8″ and 175 lbs, Kasper showed tremendous will and effort in the game of hockey his whole career and didn’t let anything get in his way.

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.[2][3]

Coaching career

Kasper returned to Boston as an assistant coach to Brian Sutter. On July 22, 1994, he was named the head coach of the Providence Bruins of the American Hockey League. He led the Bruins to a 39-30-11 record during the regular season. Then leading them to the second round of the playoffs before being eliminated from contention. Kasper then again returned to Boston in 1995–96 to replace Sutter as head coach. He led the Bruins to a 91-point season. Resulting in a first-round exit to the Florida Panthers. The following year the bruins would only win 26 games in the 1996-97 season, Kasper was fired and replaced by Pat Burns. This marked the first time in 28 years the Bruins had missed the playoffs.

On May 3, 2007, Kasper became the new head coach of the Maritime Junior A Hockey League (CJAHL) team, the Yarmouth Mariners. The team had finished last place the year before he took the position. But Kasper would completely turn team the team around leading them to a first-place finish in the regular season with a 42-12-4 record, winning the Eastlink division Championship and then winning the 2008 Kent Cup championship title vs Woodstock Slammers 4–2 in a best of 7 series.

Kasper was then hired as director of pro scouting for the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2013. Holding the position for two years before being fired on Sunday, April 12, 2015, the day after the team's last game of the season.[4]

After this Kasper would go to China serving as the head coach of the Chinas U18 team in 2017–18. Coaching them to a 2-2-0- record.

He would then move into an assistant position at Kunlun Red Star from 2018-2020. He completed the 2017-2018 season as an assistant coach responsible for the forward group and penalty killing units. Upon completion of KHL season, he was hired as the head coach of the Kunlun Red Star MHL team (Juniors) then being asked to return to the KHL in an assistant role to focus on defense and penalty killing.

Kasper would serve as the head coach of DVTK Jegesmedvék for one season in 2023–24.

Most recently in 2024 Kasper took over as the head coach of HC Presov in Slovakia. Under Kasper’s guidance the team greatly improved and went 27-4 leading them to a first-place finish in the regular season.[5] But just before the start of the playoffs Kasper stepped down as coach to go back to Canada to deal with a serious family issue.[6] Kasper time as coach set the team up perfectly for the postseason as they went on to win the league championship and get promoted to Slovak Extraliga.

Awards and achievements

As a coach

Personal life

Kasper is married and has 2 sons Jordan and Michael. Kasper who enjoyed his time with the Bruins still resides in Massachusetts living in Andover.

Kasper started his own company in 1998 called Kasper Sports Management International. He would serve as a sports agent from 1998 to 2009, one of his clients was Chris Bourque son of his former teammate Ray Bourque.[8]

Career statistics

    Regular season   Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1977–78 Verdun Éperviers QMJHL 63 26 45 71 16 4 2 4 6 0
1978–79 Verdun Éperviers QMJHL 67 37 67 104 53 11 7 6 13 22
1979–80 Verdun/Sorel Éperviers QMJHL 70 57 65 122 117 — — — — —
1980–81 Sorel Éperviers QMJHL 2 5 2 7 0 — — — — —
1980–81 Boston Bruins NHL 76 21 35 56 94 3 0 1 1 0
1981–82 Boston Bruins NHL 73 20 31 51 72 11 3 6 9 22
1982–83 Boston Bruins NHL 24 2 6 8 24 12 2 1 3 10
1983–84 Boston Bruins NHL 27 3 11 14 19 3 0 0 0 7
1984–85 Boston Bruins NHL 77 16 24 40 33 5 1 0 1 9
1985–86 Boston Bruins NHL 80 17 23 40 73 3 1 0 1 4
1986–87 Boston Bruins NHL 79 20 30 50 51 3 0 2 2 0
1987–88 Boston Bruins NHL 76 26 44 70 35 23 7 6 13 10
1988–89 Boston Bruins NHL 49 10 16 26 49 — — — — —
1988–89 Los Angeles Kings NHL 29 9 15 24 14 11 1 5 6 10
1989–90 Los Angeles Kings NHL 77 17 28 45 27 10 1 1 2 2
1990–91 Los Angeles Kings NHL 67 9 19 28 33 10 4 6 10 8
1991–92 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 16 3 2 5 10 — — — — —
1992–93 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 21 1 3 4 2 — — — — —
1992–93 Tampa Bay Lightning NHL 47 3 4 7 18 — — — — —
NHL totals 821 177 291 468 554 94 20 28 48 82

Coaching record

Team Year Regular Season Post Season
G W L T Pts Finish Result
BOS 1995–96 82 40 31 11 91 2nd in Northeast Lost in First Round
BOS 1996–97 82 26 47 9 61 6th in Northeast Missed Playoffs
Total 164 66 78 20

References

  1. ^ "1980 NHL Entry Draft -- Steve Kasper". www.hockeydraftcentral.com. Retrieved 2025-07-14.
  2. ^ "Steve Kasper remembers shadowing Wayne Gretzky". edmontonjournal. Archived from the original on 2024-06-05. Retrieved 2025-07-14.
  3. ^ "Somehow, the names Wayne Gretzky and Steve Kasper get... - UPI Archives". UPI. Retrieved 2025-07-14.
  4. ^ "Brendan Shanahan hopes to hire next Leafs GM by NHL draft | CBC Sports".
  5. ^ Steve Kasper LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/steve-kasper-095b6877
  6. ^ "Veľká rana pre hokejistov Prešova. Tréner lídra SHL odstúpil z funkcie tesne pred play-off". sportnet.sme.sk (in Slovak). Retrieved 2025-07-27.
  7. ^ "Bruins Announce "Historic 100" Ahead of All-Centennial Team Reveal | Boston Bruins". www.nhl.com. 2023-09-12. Retrieved 2025-04-14.
  8. ^ With, Jon Goode Catching Up. "Kasper cherishes time with Bruins". The Worcester Telegram & Gazette. Retrieved 2025-07-08.
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