Feb 4, 2025; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Kraken left wing Jared McCann (19) plays the puck while defended by Detroit Red Wings center Andrew Copp (18) during overtime at Climate Pledge Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-Imagn Images

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Detroit Red Wings Andrew Copp Ruled Out for the Season

Detroit loses key forward as Andrew Copp's injury forces him to miss the rest of the season.

The Detroit Red Wings received some tough news this morning as center Andrew Copp successfully underwent surgery today to repair his left pectoral tendon. He will be sidelined for the rest of the 2024-25 season, with an expected recovery timeline of 4 to 6 months. The timeline suggests he should fully recover in time for training camp in the fall.

Copp was placed on injured reserve yesterday, and in response, the Red Wings called up veteran AHL forward Sheldon Dries. Dries will serve as an extra forward while Michael Rasmussen recovers from an upper-body injury. Meanwhile, J.T. Compher will take on an expanded role, centering a top line with Alex DeBrincat and Patrick Kane, just as he did during Detroit’s recent overtime win against the Ducks.

While losing Copp is a setback, it won’t necessarily derail the Red Wings’ season. Detroit is in a strong position to end its eight-year playoff drought, and they aren’t dealing with any other long-term injuries to their forward group. Copp has been a valuable depth player, ranking sixth in team scoring with 10 goals and 13 assists through 56 games. However, with an average ice time of just under 15 minutes per game, his absence won’t be impossible to manage internally.

Andrew Copp done for season; will Red Wings make a deal? https://t.co/asknSCji1K
— MLive (@MLive) February 25, 2025

His injury could, however, influence general manager Steve Yzerman’s strategy ahead of the trade deadline. While Detroit doesn’t need to place Copp on long-term injured reserve—since they already have cap flexibility—their focus at the deadline may now shift. Acquiring a top-four defenseman remains the priority, but Copp’s absence could push Yzerman to explore rental options at center. The most high-profile name available is the Islanders’ Brock Nelson, though it’s unlikely New York will part ways with him if they’re still in the playoff race. More realistic targets include Ryan Donato (Chicago), Jake Evans (Montreal), Trent Frederic (Boston), and Yanni Gourde (Seattle). Gourde carries the highest cap hit at just over $5.1 million, but Detroit still has the financial flexibility to make a defense move as well.

Beyond short-term fixes, Copp’s injury might accelerate Yzerman’s long-term plans to acquire a younger center under contract. Detroit has been linked to Buffalo’s Dylan Cozens, but with the Sabres aiming to contend next season, trading him to a division rival seems unlikely.

Copp joined the Red Wings in 2022 on a five-year, $28.125 million deal carrying a $5.625 million cap hit. While he was coming off a strong season with Winnipeg and the Rangers, producing 21 goals and 53 points, his numbers in Detroit have been much closer to his career average of 13 goals and 35 points per season. His ice time this year was the lowest it has been in six seasons, though his possession stats improved slightly with the reduced role.

Image Credit: Steven Bisig-Imagn Images

Andrew Copp

Detroit Red Wings

NHL

Anamika Shrivastava

nhl

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