Rumor has it that the Detroit Red Wings are considering trading forward Andrew Copp this offseason following another underwhelming season.
Nick Kypreos included Andrew Copp on his Off-Season Trade Board, pointing to his reduced output as the reason for a potential trade. Although no firm suitors have emerged, the Montreal Canadiens stand out as a possible destination.
The Detroit Red Wings signed Andrew Copp to a five-year, $28.13 million deal in 2022, expecting him to replicate his 20-goal 2021-22 season. However, his drop in production has sparked trade rumors, especially with teams seeking center depth.
The Montreal Canadiens have Nick Suzuki and Jake Evans as solid centers, but questions remain beyond them. Acquiring a veteran like Andrew Copp, who can play both center and wing, would provide the Canadiens with valuable flexibility.
Andrew Copp has primarily played center for the Red Wings but can shift to the right wing if required. Daily Faceoff suggests the Montreal Canadiens may have an opening in their bottom-six at center or middle-six on the wing.
Daily Faceoff projects Kirby Dach as the Montreal Canadiens’ third-line center, but his history of injuries raises concerns. Adding Andrew Copp would offer insurance for the Canadiens in case Dach or Jake Evans suffers an injury.
In a healthy lineup, Andrew Copp could shift between wing positions, providing versatility for Montreal, particularly if prospect Ivan Demidov isn’t yet ready for a full-time NHL role.
Looking at the Return Detroit Red Wings Can Fetch from Canadiens
Nick Kypreos suggested that Detroit Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman might expect a modest return for Andrew Copp due to his declining performance and 10-team no-trade clause, potentially involving a mid-round draft pick or a depth player from a team like the Montreal Canadiens.[](https://heavy.com/sports/nhl/detroit-red-wings/trade-proposal-red-wings-canadiens/)
Andrew Copp’s 10-team no-trade clause and $5.625 million cap hit exceed his current on-ice contributions, so Steve Yzerman might retain significant salary to boost the trade return, targeting a deal akin to Philadelphia’s trade of Scott Laughton for a first-round pick.
A first-round pick might seem steep, but if the Detroit Red Wings retain salary, as the Flyers did in the Scott Laughton trade with Toronto, they could secure a favorable deal. Here’s the proposed trade:
– **Detroit Red Wings send**: Andrew Copp (with salary retention) to the Montreal Canadiens.
– **Montreal Canadiens send**: A first-round draft pick (or comparable asset) to the Detroit Red Wings.
This structure mirrors the Laughton trade, leveraging salary retention to maximize the return for Detroit.
Trade Proposal:
– **Detroit Red Wings receive**:
– 2025 first-round pick (17th overall)
– 2025 seventh-round pick
– **Montreal Canadiens receive**:
– Andrew Copp, Forward
This deal assumes Detroit retains some of Copp’s $5.625 million cap hit to facilitate the trade, mirroring the structure of past salary-retention trades like Scott Laughton’s.
The Montreal Canadiens hold two first-round picks in the 2025 NHL Draft (16th and 17th overall), and rumors suggest they may be open to trading one. This could align with the proposed deal, where Detroit receives the 17th pick and a seventh-rounder for Andrew Copp, with salary retention to sweeten the trade.
If the Detroit Red Wings retain half of Andrew Copp’s $5.625 million cap hit for the remaining two seasons, reducing it to approximately $2.813 million annually for the Montreal Canadiens, a trade could be finalized, potentially involving Montreal’s 17th overall pick and a seventh-rounder in 2025.
Copp Trade Risky for Montreal Canadiens
Trading for Andrew Copp poses a potential risk for the Montreal Canadiens, as there’s a real chance his performance could keep declining. It could end up resembling the Scott Laughton trade that didn’t pan out well for the Maple Leafs.
However, the Canadiens are focused on solidifying a playoff berth next season. That makes avoiding injury-related setbacks critical. Bringing in Copp would offer valuable depth and, if he manages to return to his 20-goal form, the move might even turn out to be a bargain.
From the Detroit Red Wings’ perspective, shedding half of Copp’s salary while acquiring an additional first-round pick would be a deal too tempting to ignore. With this proposal, the Red Wings would hold both the 13th and 17th overall selections—giving them a prime opportunity to draft a suitable replacement for Copp.
