Red Wings’ Andrew Copp out for season after surgery: How can Detroit replace him?

The Detroit Red Wings will be without second-line center Andrew Copp for the remainder of the 2024-25 season, the team announced Tuesday, after Copp underwent successful surgery to repair his left pectoral tendon. The recovery time is expected to be four to six months.

Copp did not play in the third period of Saturday’s 4-3 overtime loss to the Minnesota Wild after he was injured while pulling Wild forward Matt Boldy out of a scrum in the corner. The game was Detroit’s first after the 4 Nations Face-Off break, and Copp’s 700th of his NHL career.

Copp had 10 goals and 23 points in 56 games this season and has been relied upon in key defensive situations (including the penalty kill) all season.

The Red Wings hold the top wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference with 25 games remaining. The March 7 NHL trade deadline is less than two weeks away.

What losing Copp means for the Red Wings

Copp was one of the players who had benefitted most from Detroit’s midseason coaching change, moving up into the second-line center role under Todd McLellan.

Playing between Alex DeBrincat and either Patrick Kane or Vladimir Tarasenko (depending on the night), Copp’s smarts and ability to play in the hard areas of the ice popped more than they had in more of a pure matchup role earlier this season. Since McLellan arrived on Dec. 26, the Red Wings’ five-on-five goal share and expected goal share with Copp on the ice were both above 51 percent.

Now, as the Red Wings try to snap an eight-year playoff drought, they’ll be left to try and replace his two-way impact on that line at the most crucial time of year.

How can Detroit replace Copp?

The Red Wings’ first options will be internal, with J.T. Compher expected to center the second line in Copp’s place. Compher has experience in that role in Detroit and brings a similar two-way game to Copp. He has six goals and 22 points in 51 games this season.

The Red Wings could also opt to try rookie Marco Kasper in that spot at some point, but he has played well on the wing next to Dylan Larkin and Lucas Raymond. Detroit likes how he has looked in that role and wants to keep him there.

With the trade deadline approaching, Detroit will have the ability to explore the market to find a short-term replacement for Copp — but as a bubble team, it remains to be seen if general manager Steve Yzerman has an appetite to part with prospects or draft capital to pursue short-term rentals.

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(Photo: Sean M. Haffey / Getty Images)