A new valuable Detroit Red Wings forward has been sent to the trade market

The Detroit Red Wings are going to reshape the forward core this offseason in an effort to end their nearly decade-long playoff drought.

In order to do so, Steve Yzerman will have to move pieces out of the lineup, which could mean Andrew Copp is the first Red Wing to be dealt.

According to NHL Insider Nick Kypreos, Yzerman could make a move happen by retaining some of Copp's salary when trading the depth forward.

While this sounds promising in the greater scheme of things for the team, there remains some skepticism, as Andrew Copp is considered a leader in the locker room.

He'd only play 56 games this season after suffering an injury to his pectoral tendon, which would require surgery to repair. Copp, like Captain Dylan Larkin, felt the team went through too many periods of struggle during the year in order to recover, starting the first ten games 4-5-1, in December going 5-7-2, and would struggle through March, with a 4-10-0 record.

Unacceptable for a team that has playoff aspirations.

Copp has a personal connection to Michigan; he was born in Ann Arbor and suited up for the Michigan Wolverines, where he'd serve as Captain during his last season.

He'd make a name for himself as a depth forward in the Winnipeg Jets lineup, capable of posting 30-40 points a year, and would find himself in a Detroit Red Wings uniform in 2022-23.

There are other teams in the NHL who could utilize his leadership abilities and depth scoring touch. At this point, he eats up too much cap space as a 30+ point forward at $5.625 million AAV a season.

If Steve Yzerman could retain a margin of his salary, he could find a new home on a cup-contending roster like the Florida Panthers, as his play style is one that offers a lot of production in points on the ice, but more so physicality.

Moving Copp could give the Red Wings some space in order to sign a top-six forward and another blueliner in the lineup.