Copp hoping to stay sharp by staying active, watching film

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 21/04/2020 (1965 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Andrew Copp is no stereotypical dumb jock. Far from it, in fact. The Winnipeg Jets forward is still hitting the books despite being a multimillionaire hockey player, intent on eventually finishing his college degree.

That is commendable, making him something of a role model, a label I’m usually reluctant to pin on any athlete. It is one of the many reasons he should be wearing a letter on his sweater, something he proudly did as captain of the University of Michigan Wolverines before leaving school after his third year to turn pro.

Copp gets it, something he demonstrated once again on Tuesday during a Zoom media call. Like almost all athletes these days, he was asked for his take on the COVID-19 pandemic and the impact on the sporting world. But unlike most athletes, his answer was anything but cliché-ridden and formulaic.

Naturally, Copp would love to get back on the ice as quickly as possible, but he admits that’s easier said than done and cautioned about rushing into a return to regular life, something that many politicians and citizens south of the border might want to take note of these days.

“It could be a little more complicated than that. You just hope that things subside nicely over the next little bit and the curve gets flattened. The thing with the flattening of the curve, though, just means it’s getting extended. It’s not really about how many people are getting it overall, it’s just about how many people are getting it at one time. That’s the worry,” Copp said in response to my question.

Copp has been monitoring the situation and absorbing as much information as he can about it. In that sense, he’s in a better position to speak on the issue than the majority of his peers.

“We have the news on here every day and we’re trying to stay as informed and knowledgeable as possible. I think we’re going to try and figure out a way to play this summer. Hopefully, we do. Hopefully, sooner rather than later, but it’s going to be such a slow process. It’s going to be easing in, almost by trial and error because you just don’t want that second wave to get really, really bad. It will be interesting to see if it’s playing in front of fans, no fans, neutral site or in our home buildings,” said Copp.

When we talk about the current Jets season, discussion usually begins with fellow Michigan product Connor Hellebuyck, the goaltender who was in the midst of a stellar campaign that made him the Vezina Trophy front-runner. Chat then often turns to another member of the Great Lakes State in Kyle Connor, who led the Jets in goal scoring with a career-high 38 tallies at the time of the pause.

While Copp may not have similar stellar statistics or three-star selections under his belt, his importance to the success of the squad has never been greater.

The 25-year-old was in the midst of his best season with the Jets, with 10 goals and 16 assists in 63 games. All of those offensive numbers were approaching career bests. They’re even more impressive when you consider Copp has moved all over the lineup, skating with a whopping 11 different players while playing both centre and wing. He boosts the penalty kill and is usually assigned to try to shut down the other team’s stars, a challenge he welcomes.

That speaks to how versatile he is and how much head coach Paul Maurice depends on him. He’s the ultimate Swiss Army knife, who instantly improves whatever line he’s placed on.

As he rides out the pandemic in Florida with his snowbird parents and brother (who attends college in nearby Georgia), Copp is keeping his body and mind in shape. In between outdoor runs, swims, tennis and socially distant golf games, he’s been reviewing film from the past season, breaking down every shift he’s had.

Copp was in the first year of a two-year deal received through contentious salary arbitration with the Jets last summer, which he admits left him with a big chip on his shoulder. He’s previously described it as going to “war” with the organization, another example of him being a straight shooter when it comes to dealing with the media.

He was awarded US$2.28 million over two years. The arbitrator basically split the difference between his US$2.9-million ask and Winnipeg’s insulting US$1.5-million offer that was necessitated by a salary cap crunch that actually wasn’t nearly as dire as predicted given Dustin Byfuglien’s money coming off the books due to a mutual contract termination.

Copp is underpaid by today’s NHL standards and due for a raise when he’s once again a restricted free agent with arbitration rights in the summer of 2021. Of course, the financial landscape of the league may have drastically changed by then, especially if this paused season doesn’t resume at some point.

Copp is aware of all this, but said he’s not the type of person to dwell on things he can’t control. That goes for his next contract, and when his next hockey game may be.

“This is a lot bigger than hockey and this is going to be something that we have to handle this year. Hopefully move forward and hopefully the health authorities and the entire population gets back to a place where — not saying it never happened — but having an avenue towards getting life back to fully normal,” said Copp.

Spoken like a true leader, something Copp admits he’s been doing a lot more of, at least in an unofficial capacity, after five seasons with the franchise.

“When you look around the room, there’s not too many guys that were here before I was here. It feels like my voice has gotten a little bit louder in the room. My leadership role, for sure, has grown and I hope that it continues to grow,” he said.

All of which is why formally bringing Copp into the leadership group that currently includes captain Blake Wheeler and alternates Mark Scheifele and Josh Morrissey would be the smartest move the Jets could make.

mike.mcintyre@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @mikemcintyrewpg