The Detroit Red Wings announced that Andrew Copp will miss the rest of the 2024-25 season due to successful surgery on his left pectoral tendon. His recovery will take about four to six months.
Copp got hurt in the third period during a tough game against the Minnesota Wild. He was trying to pull Wild player Matt Boldy out of a scrum when he suffered the injury. This game marked Copp’s 700th appearance in the NHL.
So far this season, Copp recorded 10 goals and 23 points in 56 games. He is also valuable in defensive situations, especially during penalty kills.
The Red Wings currently hold a key wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference, with 25 games left in the season, and the trade deadline is just around the corner on March 7.
Copp’s absence will be felt significantly. He adapted well to the team’s midseason coaching change and had stepped up as the second-line center under coach Todd McLellan. Playing alongside stars like Alex DeBrincat and either Patrick Kane or Vladimir Tarasenko, Copp’s skills really shone through in high-pressure situations. Since McLellan took over in late December, the team has seen an improvement in their performance on the ice with Copp as a crucial player.
Now, as the Red Wings strive to end an eight-year playoff drought, finding a way to replace his contributions will be challenging.
To fill the gap left by Copp, J.T. Compher is expected to take over the second-line center position. He has experience in this role and brings a similar two-way play style. This season, Compher has logged six goals and 22 points in 51 games.
The team might also consider giving rookie Marco Kasper a shot in that role, although he’s been performing well on the wing with Dylan Larkin and Lucas Raymond. Detroit seems pleased with his current position and may prefer to keep him there.
With the trade deadline approaching, general manager Steve Yzerman might look for external options to temporarily replace Copp. However, since the team is on the playoff bubble, it’s uncertain if he will be willing to trade valuable prospects for a short-term solution.
Check out this related article: Kwesi Adofo-Mensah Discusses Sam Darnold: Exploring Exciting Options for the Future
Source linkDetroit Red Wings, Fantasy Hockey, NHL
