Detroit Red Wings need more from Andrew Copp in coming seasons

The Detroit Red Wings signed Andrew Copp last summer, bringing him in on a five-year contract that keeps him here through the 2026-27 season. Copp will take home $5.625 million a season in terms of average annual value, according to CapFriendly.

The Detroit Red Wings signed him after a big season in 2021-22. He was traded mid-season from the Winnipeg Jets to the New York Rangers, making a post-season run with them after posting a career-best in points.

So, the bar for Copp coming in was pretty high, and he has not exactly lived up to it. His first year in Detroit did not pan out exactly as many had hoped. He found ways to contribute and did well enough, but the Red Wings must be looking for more out of him moving forward.

The Red Wings may not be expecting him to eclipse a career-best in 2023-24, but finding ways to be a more complete player and still tap into offense has to be the expectation for Copp. At times he looked like the player he was in 2021-22, and at others, not so much, so being more consistent and complete is critical.

Detroit Red Wings need more out of Andrew Copp.

In 2022-23, Copp played in all 82 games for the Red Wings. He scored just nine goals and added 33 assists for 42 total points. He was a plus-two for the Red Wings on the season as well. It was not the most offensive season out of him, but there’s room to improve.

Only potting nine goals was his lowest total since the 2017-18 season when he was with the Winnipeg Jets. He has to be looking to get back up into the double digits in goals and get up around the 15-goal threshold to find ways to be beneficial.

Sure, he set a career-high in assists, but the hope was that Copp could do it by way of his own stick or set up others. Plus, he’s just a complete player, top to bottom, who excels on both ends of the ice.

To nitpick, his face-off percentage was also under 50% for the first time since the 2016-17 season. So, trying to be a truly complete player, the Red Wings would probably like to see that number improve a hair.

In the coming seasons, the Red Wings must be looking for more. Not that he needs to become a 20G-30A guy as a two-way forward with plus numbers in all areas, but it would be good to see Copp tap into some more offense and settle in as a true two-way threat for this team.

If he can win draws, contribute offensively & put pucks in the back of the net, and play sound defense, that contract will look much better.