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Will Copp’s Production Lead to Red Wings Expanded Role?

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Andrew Copp, Red Wings

DETROIT — Red Wings forward Andrew Copp believes he can do more to help the Detroit Red Wings and his early season numbers support that notion.



Moved to a line with J.T. Compher and Patrick Kane, Copp contributed a goal and an assist to 3-2 overtime loss to the Edmonton Oilers. He now shows four goals and two assists in Detroit’s first nine games. That’s a strong start for a player who posted 13 goals and 33 points last season.

“I would argue that the role wasn’t expanded until tonight,” Copp said. “I’d say it was actually decreased, to be honest. No, I mean, I think that. I think it’s in my game. When I signed here, that was part of it. It hasn’t necessarily clicked exactly the way I wanted to. And part of that is myself part of that injury, you know, from two years ago and part of that’s deployment as well.”

He makes it clear that he believes if his role is expanded, like it was against Edmonton, he will produce more. He received power play time (1:04) to go with his shorthanded time (:49) against the Oilers. The former University of Michigan standout was eight-for-nine in the faceoff circle. He has scoring in his history: Copp put up 21 goals and 53 points in a combined season for the Winnipeg Jets and New York Rangers in 2021-22.

New Line Sharp

“I think I was relied on as a checking line player, play against the other team’s top lines and no power play,” Copp said. “I think that can kind of change your outlook and your mentality a little bit too. So I’m definitely not up here complaining. I’m just kind of just stating what has happened, I guess. But, I want to contribute offensively. I think that’s a big part of my game. I think that going to wing today is a big part of who I am. Being able to play up and down the lineup, play, you know, center, both wings, special teams, that’s kind of who I’ve been so…I was looking forward to the opportunity tonight to play with these two and produce.”

That line produced five points with J.T. Compher scoring and Patrick Kane adding two assists.

“I love the center-wing caliber, the guy that can do both,” Detroit coach Derek Lalonde said. “And I just think a lot of our guys, it’s a little less on them to be on the wing, a little less thought, a little less taxing. And I think, they produce and have done some good things on the wing, but again, we have the luxury of moving guys around.”

Lalonde made the line adjustments to deal with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl.

“Huge credit to our guys seeking those matchups and getting a point against a really good team, but two really special players,” Lalonde said. “In pre-scout we call them cheat code players, the old Nintendo. They’re special players. So again, all in all, pretty good point.”

Lalonde said Copp has done some “good things” in the early going.

“Obviously he was probably on the bad end of some of the (poor) penalty kill, unfortunately, but penalty kill was great tonight, so, you know, positive for sure,” Lalonde said.

Copp did take a tripping penalty (against Mattias Janmark) at 18:09 of the third period. The Red Wings finished killing that off just before Draisaitl scored in overtime.

 

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Mike Babcock

Great line matching, Losey.

My favorite one was where you had Maatta and Johansson against McDavid and Draisaitl which led to a goal against.

Way to take advantage of last line change at home!

He’s not coach of the year material for nothing folks!

Keep up the great work, Losey.

Got a point! 🙄

Last edited 8 days ago by Mike Babcock
RWHockey13

Really challenging times figure that out. Poor match-up in the third. Did you listen to Copp and Kane on the post game? The team similar to Blashill is going into the “defend the lead” type of thing. These guys stated they spent too much time defending rather than taking the offense to the other team in the third.

Stevie B

I said on a previous article that I liked Kane’s take on good defense, that its created by keeping the puck in the o-zone, but we cant do that because sloppy passing, poor puck control and players not finding space when we win board battles so that there is no outlet pass (leading to either passing to a player who has opposition all over him, or just dumping round the back of the net) which invariably loses us the puck and back down the ice we go for the goaltender to sort it out. I’m seeing this same pattern of play night after night.

If we do have to camp in our own D-zone, there are better ways to go about it. I saw the way the Sabres were structured in front of their net. They blocked all avenues and then pressed the puck carriers whilst also pressing the outlet guys. It meant we had no options, no passes, no route for a shot, nothing. Thats how its done when you do have to sit back. I still dont know if its because they (Sabres) are good at D, or whether we made them look good because we are poor at O.

Stevie B

This wasn’t a point gained, it was a point thrown away. I think we can begin to see where the season is going now. Lots of condescending talk about how well they’re doing. It’s going to turn ugly when the goaltenders start to tire. Copp’s penalty with a couple minutes to go in the third was unbelievably bad timing, it helped to throw away a precious point. I wouldn’t be talking about that as a good night.

RWHockey13

Exactly.

Mike Babcock

They did it all last season too.

Glorify moral victories.

Blashill used to brag about 1 goal losses and empty net goal losses.

Loser’s mentality.

These players are too coddled.

Need an old school guy like Quenneville to come in and crack the whip.

But he’s around the same age Scotty was when he retired so I don’t know how effective he’d be? 🤔

Last edited 8 days ago by Mike Babcock