Steve Kasper

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.

Steve Kasper
Kasper with the Boston Bruins in 1980
Born	(1961-09-28) September 28, 1961 (age 63) 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

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

• Seventh Player Award in 1981

• Frank J. Selke Trophy winner in 1982.
• Bruins 3 Stars award in 1987 and 1988
• Defensive player Award In 1990 and 1991
• Named One of the Top 100 Best Bruins Players of all Time.^[7]

As a coach

• Kent Cup 2008
• Eastlink division Championship 2008
• Slovenská hokejová liga regular season champion 2025

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