Keeping Copp in blue not so easy
After the trade deadline, Andrew Copp told his agent to “Go kick rocks.” As the season finished out and he embarked on a playoff run with the Rangers, Copp made it clear he had no interest in thinking about his future.
But now that it’s over, with unrestricted free agency looming next month for the 27-year-old, it’s time for him to start having those conversations. The Rangers have until July 13, when free agency opens, to strike a deal before other teams can get involved. Copp proved to be a valuable addition to the Rangers, with 14 points in the postseason, but bringing him back is not so easy.
Ryan Strome, Kevin Rooney and all four trade deadline acquisitions — Copp, Tyler Motte, Frank Vatrano and Justin Braun — will be unrestricted free agents. Kaapo Kakko is hitting restricted free agency and GM Chris Drury must also keep in mind that Alexis Lafreniere, Filip Chytil and K’Andre Miller will do so after next season. The math does not allow the Rangers to keep everyone, and in a more direct sense, it’s unlikely that they will find a way to pay both Copp and Strome.
Strome has said that staying
with the Rangers is his first choice. Copp, too, seemed open to the possibility.
“Over these next couple weeks, just kinda continue to evaluate and basically hear from [coach Gerard Gallant] and [Drury], where they see long term and go from there,” Copp said. “Long term not only is not just next year but in hopefully four or five years. How they see me in the room in terms of the leadership group and all those kinds of things. Lot to take in, lot to hear and then just kinda make the best available decision.
“Not married to one thing or the other, but I definitely did enjoy my time here and definitely feels like there’s unfinished business. Definitely really like the group and the direction this team’s going.”
The Rangers paid a heavy price to acquire Copp at the trade deadline, giving up their firstround pick, a conditional secondround pick and prospect Morgan Barron in a deal with Winnipeg. That was well worth it to make the conference final, but it would be preferable to have Copp for more than three months.
Money-wise, the situation is made complicated by the NHL’s salary cap, which is in essence staying flat year after year, rising by just $1 million for next season. Copp made $3.6 million on his last deal and would logically be due a raise, but there are only so many teams that can afford to give that to him. (Detroit, a team with oodles of cap space located 45 minutes from where Copp grew up and went to school in Ann Arbor, makes some sense as a landing spot were he to leave.)
Rangers general manager Chris Drury said little to tip his hand in speaking with media on Wednesday, but he was more than positive about Copp’s impact.
“I think big picture, he fit extremely well coming in,” Drury said.
Among other things, Copp mentioned he prefers playing center to wing, where the Rangers had him, and that being in a leadership position will factor into his eventual decision. That said, he won’t be looking at one specific criteria above everything else.
“It’s gonna be taking everything in about the situation, where the team is going, the special teams, the coach, the systems, everything comes into play,” Copp said. “Not to mention city, way of life, all those kinds of things.”