2 weeks Ago By Kevin Allen, Detroit Hockey Now
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 his expanded, like it was against Edmonton, he will produce more. He got power play time (1:04) to go with 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. Looked Sharp on New Line “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. This article first appeared on Detroit Hockey Now and was syndicated with permission..
