Ann Arbor is about 43 miles from Detroit. While this is important information for fans of both the Michigan Wolverines (NCAA) and any of the major Detroit sports teams, this has become increasingly relevant information pertaining to arguably the Red Wings’ biggest acquisition on the first day of free agency. You see, much was made of John Tavares and his Toronto Maple Leafs bedsheets when he signed on with Toronto as a free agent in 2018. And while Andrew Copp is not the same caliber of player as Tavares was when he hit the open market, it’s pretty safe to say that Copp signed with the team he cheered for as a kid, growing up just a 45 minute drive away from Detroit.
“My parents might,” Copp answered when ESPN’s John Buccigross asked him if he had any pictures of him wearing Red Wings pajamas. “Hopefully those will just stay away and we can just concentrate on the new pictures.”
It was always pretty easy to picture Copp as a Red Wing. He spent three seasons with the University of Michigan from 2012 to 2015, and he was the captain of the Wolverines during his final season with the program. That same season, there was a highly-touted freshman player on the roster who also grew up on the east side of Michigan. That player was Dylan Larkin, and he and Copp would be roommates throughout that 2014-15 season. Copp was a Winnipeg Jets prospect at that time, and you have to wonder if maybe he was just a little bit jealous that his freshman teammate was a prospect of the hometown Red Wings.
Fast forward to 2022, and the roles have been switched. Larkin is the captain, having just concluded his second season wearing the ‘C’ on his sweater. Copp is the new face in town, eager to make a good impression on his coaches and his teammates. But this is more than just a feel-good story about a Michigan-born player finally coming home to play for the Red Wings. Copp wasn’t signed to a five-year deal because of where he grew up.
Related: Detroit Red Wings Sign Andrew Copp to Five-Year Contract
Copp was signed to the largest deal general manager (GM) Steve Yzerman has given out during his tenure with the Red Wings because he has the ability to fill a much-needed role in Detroit – and maybe even a few more roles than people realize.
Copp Fills the Elusive 2nd Line Center Role for Red Wings
Since Yzerman took over as GM, Larkin has been firmly entrenched as the Red Wings’ top center. It’s the…
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