Nothing wrong with scoring

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This article was published 27/09/2021 (1447 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Andrew Copp has always possessed the defensive chops necessary for gainful employment in the NHL but entered previous seasons with a burning desire to beef up his offensive numbers.

While the label of defensive specialist was nice, he wanted to accentuate his worth to the organization as a key point-producer.

The 27-year-old winger did it in spades during the shortened 2021 campaign, registering career highs in goals (15), assists (24) and points (39). The trick now for the Michigan product is to validate a more permanent promotion to the ‘top-six” with elevated offensive success.

He’s relishing the opportunity — with so many options available up front — to skate with centre Pierre-Luc Dubois and winger Nikolaj Ehlers in training camp.

“I felt like it’s going to be a battle in camp. I don’t know if battle is the right way to put it, but just see how the pieces fit together because, obviously, there are some very good players in our top six and in our top nine, really. I just want to continue improve myself, continue to improve and show that I can be on a scoring line if that’s where I’m need to be,” Copp said Monday.

“So, I had good production last year and just want an opportunity to be able to prove that.”

The prevailing sentiment is when it comes to usage, Copp is rarely separated from Adam Lowry — and that one cannot make an impact for the Jets without the other. Indeed, head coach Paul Maurice’s game plan usually resulted in the duo spending an abundance of time together, all the way back to the 2016-17 season when Copp earned a regular spot in the lineup.

But other machinations have existed and Copp has thrived in most.

“I mean, we’re not attached at the hip. We played like 40 games apart last year. I think the last two years we’ve only really played half the time,” he said, of the perception the veterans come as a set. “From his injury, from Bryan Little’s injury, I was with (Jansen) Harkins and (Jack) Roslovic two years ago for a long stretch of time. I was with KC (Kyle Connor) and Patty (Laine) for a stretch of time. So, there’s been a lot of mixing and matching,” he said. “I will say I was looking around to see colour-wise the first day, I was a little surprised we weren’t the same colour (jersey). But… a hundred things are going to happen before the opener in Anaheim (Oct. 13).

In seasons past, Maurice had stated with some regularity that he believed Copp had a splash of offence still to be tapped. The fourth-round pick (2013) out of the University of Michigan scored 25 goals and adding 34 assists in his first 224 games (2015-18) but increased his rate of scoring the last three seasons, netting 36 goals and assisting on 54 others in 187 games.

Increased production has not come at the expense of his innate defensive acumen and physicality, according to his boss.

“I don’t know what he’s done to find a set of (or) to develop his hands. You don’t see that very often, what he’s doing, coming in as a guy who’s nearly defensively perfect in his first year. That’s unusual. You don’t see a lot of guys transition beyond that,” said Maurice. “He’s not going to force very many offensive plays that should be made. He still makes the right decision. So, I would suggest maybe part of what’s going on with him offensively is that now he’s playing with more offensive players. And because I trust him in that vein, that this is what Andrew’s going to do.”

And having that double-edged sword as part of his weaponry, the coaching staff has choices.

“Who are the two players that can best complement from that? Well, we can play him with Lowry and whoever that right winger is and run them hard against the other teams’ best. But I can also play him with Dubois and Nik Ehlers. Nikky plays a really unusual kind of dynamic game… the centremen Pierre-Luc is fighting that out, right? So, Copper’s kind of the failsafe just in case things don’t get read properly, he picks those things up. And he’s going to make a play with the puck on his stick… he’s going to pick up more points.”

The new trio combined to create some opportunities in the Jets’ 3-2 overtime defeat to the visiting Ottawa Senators but will have to wait until the weekend for another public appearance — by way of a pre-season game — to work on clicking. It’s expected Copp, Ehlers and Dubois won’t suit up Wednesday night when the Edmonton Oilers drop in.

Winnipeg’s top line of centre Mark Scheifele and wingers Blake Wheeler and Kyle Connor will likely make its pre-season debut, as will veteran Paul Stastny, another candidate for top-six minutes.

“I view it as a competition against myself. I don’t really feel like I’m competing against anybody in particular because things are going to move around,” said Copp. Scheif, KC and Wheels are not going to play the entire year together. Everything’s going to get moved around. I think I’m just kind of competing, internally competing against myself, just to prove how good I can be.”

The Jets signed Copp in mid-August to a one-year deal worth US$3.64 million, avoiding a salary arbitration hearing that had been set for later that month. He could become an unrestricted free agent at the end of next season.

Flashy stats and increased minutes would benefit his earning potential, however, he’s not focused on his contract situation.

“I don’t think it has to do with next summer,” he said. “Trying to prove that I can play anywhere in the lineup and, hopefully, higher in the lineup consistently, and I feel like I just want to prove to Paul that he has to put me on the ice. Like he needs to have me on the ice as much as possible. That’s kind of where I’m at.”

jason.bell@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @WFPJasonBell