The Detroit Red Wings are looking to trade a veteran forward and are open to retaining salary to facilitate a move.
The Red Wings enter a pivotal offseason as general manager Steve Yzerman is open to being aggressive to snap their nine-year playoff drought. One player that has been mentioned in trade talks is Andrew Copp, as Detroit is looking to move him.
Not only are the Red Wings looking to trade Copp, but NHL insider Nick Kypreos revealed the team is willing to retain a hefty amount to make the deal happen.
“The centre market is full of buyers, so it’s a perfect time for a seller to explore the market,” Kypreos wrote. “Andrew Copp signed a five-year contract with a $5.625 million cap hit to join Detroit in 2022 when he was coming off a career-best season, but he has not built on that and, in fact, has had declining offensive totals in each of the past three years.
“That’s not the best sell job on this player, which is why GM Steve Yzerman could be open to retaining a hefty amount of Copp’s cap hit for the next two years,” Kypreos added. “Ideally the Wings would do that if it meant getting a return similar to what Philadelphia got for Scott Laughton (a first-round pick). Copp has a 10-team no-trade list in his contract.”
Copp has two years left on his five-year, $28.125 million deal with the Red Wings. However, the veteran center hasn’t produced as Detroit had hoped and are looking to move on from him.
Copp recorded 10 goals and 13 assists for 23 points in 56 games.
Red Wings Coach Was Impressed With Copp
Copp is a veteran leader and was a key player on and off the ice for the Red Wings.
However, during the season, Copp suffered a season-ending injury. It was a tough blow as Todd McLellan, who took over as Red Wings coach midway through the season, was impressed with the veteran forward.
“Absolutely,” coach Todd McLellan said. “You don’t know what you’re missing until you miss it. We didn’t realize as a coaching staff, when we first got here, that he meant a lot to the team. In his situation, do you expect 35 goals from him? That’s probably unrealistic. But the things he does on the ice … he was really starting to play. He balances out the line a little bit.”
Copp also heaped praise on McLellan before and after the injury, as he felt rejuvenated with him as his coach.
Red Wings GM Believes Team is Enticing to Play For
Detroit has missed the playoffs in three straight seasons, but Yzerman doesn’t think that hurts the team.
Instead, Yzerman says the Red Wings are an enticing team to play for and one players want to play for.
“It all comes down to what are they looking for? What’s important to them? Are they trying to win a Stanley Cup? Are they looking to put the most money in their pockets as they can? Do they want to play with their buddy? So, I didn’t see that (playoff drought) as an issue last year and I don’t anticipate that as an issue this year,” Yzerman said. “And I think you look at our team and it’s an enticing opportunity to play alongside some of these guys and really make a difference on a team that’s trying to take another step.”
Detroit has just over $21.3 million in cap space.
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