Copp could win his job back with call-up

After spending 77 games with the Winnipeg Jets last season, Andrew Copp started out this season with the Manitoba Moose. This wasn’t a total shock to many as the Jets depth up front heading in to training camp was pretty deep. Now with Bryan Little, Shawn Matthias and Drew Stafford on the shelf with injury, Copp has been called up and has a second chance to show that he belongs with the big club.

I have a hunch that he’ll stay a little longer than the brief stint many injury related call-ups get. It wouldn’t be one bit surprising if Copp won back his job as the Jets fourth line centre.

As of now, Alexander Burmistrov is penciled in as the Jets fourth line centre. To put it lightly, Burmistrov’s start to the year has been underwhelming. In the past, the Russian centre has showed he can be a defensively reliable player but he is yet to show that he can simplify and adjust his game. His stick handling and fancy stuff has led to more than a handful of mistakes in games. That kind of stuff isn’t needed especially when your seeing limited ice-time to begin with. 

With this call-up, Copp has a great opportunity to reclaim the role he occupied for all of last season. ” I want to show that I can be more than a fourth-line centre.” Copp told WinnipegJets.com. The Jets wanted Copp to develop his offensive game down with the Moose and he got plenty of opportunity to do that. ” I’ve been playing power play, penalty kill, and being out there for important face-offs, and that’s been good for me.” Copp continued. 

Last season, Copp won 46.1% of his draws while serving as a key component to the team’s penalty kill. Copp’s offensive game took flight at the back-end of last season as he recorded 6 of his 13 points in the Jets final 11 games. The former Michigan Wolverine has the potential to become more than a fourth line centre, but regardless of when that time comes, he still remains the best option to be the team’s fourth line centre for the time being. His penalty killing attributes, face-off ability and simplicity to his game brings much more than the reckless facets of Burmistrov’s game. 

During this years training camp an argument could be had about not needing both Andrew Copp and Adam Lowry in your lineup. Before the season got underway, both appeared like fourth line calibre players. We don’t know if Copp can be more than a fourth line centre yet, but in terms of Lowry, he’s looking like a quality third line centre. The power-forward had a sophomore slump last season but the speed bump can be put in the rear view mirror when watching the way he has played this year. 

If Copp takes advantage of the opportunity he is given ( if they actually give him some ice-time), the Jets could elect to keep Copp with them for the long haul.. The Jets have got pretty much all they are going to get from Burmistrov and now is the right time to cut the cord and hand the reigns back to Andrew Copp, who should have never lost the fourth line centre spot to begin with.

Don’t be surprised if Andrew Copp sticks around with the Jets for more than a handful of games.