Red Wings forward may have removed himself from Steve Yzerman's trade block

Back in August, we speculated that Detroit Red Wings forward Andrew Copp would be traded. We're almost halfway through the NHL season, and it looks as if he's escaped the trade block.

Copp, initially thought to be capable of becoming another top-six forward as a veteran in the Red Wings system, scored 42 points during his first season with the team in 2022-23.

Now three years later, the Ann Arbor, Michigan-born forward has played well enough to catapult himself into the 2nd-line center position. He's bought into his role as a 2nd line forward under Todd McLellan.

In 37 games with the Red Wings this season, he's scored 20 points (3-17) and is centering Alex DeBrincat and John Leonard in the lineup.

It looks as if Andrew Copp has decided to play up to his contract and become a clutch player right when the Red Wings need him.

The $5.625 million forward has one more year left on his contract he signed with the Red Wings on July 13th, 2022.

With the kind of production we've seen, it's safe to say the trade rumors we saw back in November, which involved Copp as a trade chip, while the team entertained promoting players such as Carter Mazur or Amadeus Lombardi.

Copp reached a career-high 42 points (9-33) on a team that finished 7th in the Atlantic Division and was led by Derek Lalonde.

Fortunately for fans, those days of struggle have passed with Todd McLellan taking the reins and practicing accountability with his players.