The New York Rangers will be looking to bolster their lineup for this upcoming season. In particular, focusing on their depth down the middle will be a crucial step toward helping the team get back to the postseason.
That’s why adding a solid, versatile forward could give coach Mike Sullivan various weapons to deploy across multiple game situations. That weapon could be former top-six forward Andrew Copp.
Copp played for a brief stint with the Rangers during the 2021-22 season. He came over as a trade deadline deal, but then departed via free agency to the Detroit Red Wings. Now, the Blue Shirts have an opportunity to a solid depth piece to their lineup.
Here’s a look at what this trade idea could look like:
Rangers get:
Andrew Copp, F
Red Wings get:
2026 third-round pick
This trade assumes the Red Wings retain as much as 50% of Copp’s $5.625 million cap hit for this season and next. Otherwise, the Rangers would have to do some serious cap clearing to fit Copp under their current cap situation.
It’s also worth pointing out that if the Red Wings expected the Rangers to take on Copp’s entire cap hit, the price paid for the 30-year-old forward would be much lower. Perhaps the Rangers could go as far as landing Copp for future considerations.
Why Copp Fits into Rangers’ Lineup
Daily Faceoff projects Juuso Parssinen as the Rangers’ third-line center, with Sam Carrick bringing up the checking line. Those two centers don’t evoke the most confidence in fans. Of course, that’s under the assumption that Mika Zibanejad moves to the wing, leaving Vincent Trocheck as the top-line center and J.T. Miller as the second-line pivot.
If the Rangers moved Zibanejad down the middle, the club could place him as the third-line center. Still, Copp could play a role for the Rangers. Copp could slide in and out of the center role, potentially filling a wing spot on the second line, if needed.
Otherwise, the Rangers could find value in Copp taking over the 3C role with Parssinen dropping to the 4C slot.
Given the way the 2025-26 season is shaping up, the Rangers will need as much depth and versatility as they can get. So, adding someone like Andrew Copp gives them secondary scoring while plugging in various gaps throughout the lineup.
Copp’s Cap Hit Could Get in Way of Deal
The biggest roadblock is Copp’s cap hit. The Red Wings would be more than happy to get out from under Copp’s contract.
If the Wings are unwilling to retain salary, the deal might very well be a no-go for the Rangers. But then again, injuries can strike, and inconsistency could become an issue. That’s why exploring a deal for a veteran, established forward could be just what the doctor ordered.
Copp showed promise during his cup of coffee on Broadway. So, there’s room to believe a reprisal of his performance from three seasons ago could be forthcoming. It’s a calculated gamble, but one that could pay off for the Rangers.
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