The Detroit Red Wings are rumored to be looking to move forward Andrew Copp this offseason after another down year.
Nick Kypreos listed Copp on his Off-Season Trade Board, citing his declining production as the motivator for the trade. While there are no clear suitors for Copp at this point, one team comes to mind: The Montreal Canadiens.
The Wings signed Copp to a five-year, $28.13 million contract in 2022, hoping he could build on the 20-goal season he posted in 2021-22. But his declining production has fueled trade speculation, particularly involving teams looking for center depth.
The Canadiens are sent down the middle with Nick Suzuki and Jake Evans, but beyond that, some questions emerge. So, adding a veteran who could play center and wing gives the Canadiens some much-needed flexibility.
Copp has predominantly played down the middle for the Red Wings but can slide on the right side if needed. Daily Faceoff projects the Canadiens’ potentially having an open spot in the bottom-six at center or the middle-six on the wing.
Daily Faceoff pencils Kirby Dach in as the third-line center. However, Dach has dealt with injury issues in the past. So, having someone like Copp around would provide some insurance in case Dach or potentially Evans go down with injuries.
On a healthy squad, Copp could move up and down the lineup on the wing, especially if Ivan Demidov isn’t quite ready for primetime in Montreal.
Looking at the Return Detroit Red Wings Can Fetch from Canadiens
Kypreos offered this insight into what the Detroit Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman could expect in return for Copp:
“Copp has a 10-team no-trade list and his $5.625 million cap hit is a lot for what he’s currently bringing in on-ice value, so Yzerman could look to retain a lot of money here to maximize the return and aim to get something similar to what Philadelphia did for Scott Laughton (a first-round pick). “
A first-round pick may sound like a lot, but if the Red Wings are willing to retain some money like the Flyers did in the Scott Laughton trade with the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Wings could catch a break.
Here’s a look at the proposal:
Red Wings get:
2025 first-round pick (17th overall)
2025 seventh-round pick
Canadiens get:
Andrew Copp, F
It’s worth pointing out that the Montreal Canadiens possess two first-rounders in the 2025 NHL Draft: The 16th and 17th picks. If musings around the league are to be believed, the Canadiens might be willing to part with one of them.
So, if the Red Wings are willing to retain half of Copp’s cap hit for the next two seasons, a deal could get done.
Copp Trade Risky for Montreal Canadiens
A trade involving Andrew Copp is risky for the Montreal Canadiens. The likelihood of Copp continuing to decline is there. In fact, the deal may work out much the same way the Scott Laughton deal was worked out for the Maple Leafs.
But the Canadiens are looking to strengthen their foothold on a playoff spot next season. That’s why the team cannot afford to be derailed by injuries. Adding Copp would provide insurance, and could even be a steal if he can rebound to his 20-goal form.
As for the Detroit Red Wings, getting out from under half of Copp’s cap hit, and landing another first-round pick would be too good to pass up. This proposal adds the 17th pick to the Wings’ 13th. That situation alone allows the Red Wings to draft Copp’s replacement.
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