Photo: NHL.com
The Washington Capitals are among at least five teams in the running to acquire Winnipeg Jets center Andrew Copp prior to the 2022 NHL Trade Deadline a week from Monday at 3 PM ET, according to The Fourth Period’s David Pagnotta and Dennis Bernstein. Bernstein added that the 27-year-old could cost a “mid-level pick and a prospect.”
The Boston Bruins, Tampa Bay Lightning, New York Rangers and Colorado Avalanche are also interested in acquiring him.
Copp has collected 13 goals, 32 points, and a 53.76% faceoff-winning percentage in 52 games this season and 74 goals and 181 points in 463 career regular-season games. He hit the 30-point mark for the first time last season, when he also set career-highs in goals (15) and assists (24) in 55 games.
Copp has scored at least nine goals in six straight campaigns and 10 in four straight. He has also won nearly 52% of the faceoffs he has taken in each of the past six seasons — the Capitals currently rank 28th in the NHL with a 47.4% faceoff-winning percentage. Copp comes with a $3.64 million cap hit before becoming eligible for unrestricted free agency on July 17.
He also averages 2:32 both on the penalty kill per game (leading Jets forwards) and the power play (fifth). With the loss of left-wing Carl Hagelin likely for the rest of the season, the Capitals could use some help on the penalty kill (12th with an 80.9% efficiency but 16th at 79% since January 2).
Copp would likely slide in on the third-line, which could push Axel Jonsson-Fjallby out of the lineup.
By Harrison Brown
Would it push Axel all the way to the Jets? If he’s sent down to Hershey, wouldn’t he have to clear waivers? Injured Snively? Benchsitter McMichael? Someone in Hershey? We know that Laviolette would pick a vet over any of his rookies.
Tampa has neither the money nor the picks to make this move. I think one of their regulars would have to go. They do have two former-prospects playing but I don’t either one would free up the bucks.
Would this mean that GMBM and Laviolette have given up on getting a veteran goalie?
Alot to ask for just to get a face off guy. They need to stay pat unless they can trade shultz and carlson
I think he has more value than that.
Copp is a good middle 6 center who is young, great Face off guy and PK’er. this isn’t just some 4th line punk. Gives lots of options at Center and Wing and flexibility with Backstrom. That said, I think Eller needs to go to make this work. That allows us to extend Copp or move McMichael to 3C next year.
I like the sound of this.
What is the point in acquiring him. Upcoming FA. Adds little to our lineup for that cap hit. Unless they can swap Eller for him.
Playoff push.
You know cap hits are prorated, right?
Duh. Prevents them from using that space to get something they really need rather than Eller 2.0. You can see that right?