Andrew Copp is on his way to Broadway. The Rangers will add the multipurpose center into a talented group of forwards for what they hope will be a run into mid-June. The Winnipeg Jets sent the 27-year-old Ann Arbor native to New York in exchange for a conditional 2nd round pick in 2022, a 2nd round pick in 2023, a 5th rounder in 2023, and forward Morgan Barron. There are two conditions involved in the deal. The 2nd rounder in 2022 becomes a first if the Rangers advance to the Eastern Conference Finals and if Copp plays in 50% of those playoff games. If that second becomes a first, Winnipeg can then choose either the 2nd rounder in 2022 or 2023. The Rangers will also receive a 6th round pick in 2023.
Copp should slot into the 3rd line center role but can play any of the three forward positions. He brings a career faceoff percentage of 52% to a Rangers team that is under 50% for the season and has been in dire need of faceoff help for years. Copp is also an extremely effective penalty killer and should help a PK unit that already ranks in the top ten in the league.
The 27-year-old is set to become an Unrestricted Free Agent after the season. It’s way too soon to tell, but if he impresses enough during the remaining 19 contests and in the playoffs, he could replace Ryan Strome as the second-line center.
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