Credit: NHL.com
The LA Kings could be keeping close eyes on the New York Rangers this offseason. Gerard Gallant’s club advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals but fell to the Tampa Bay Lightning in six games. Now, they will have a difficult roster decision of keeping either Ryan Strome or Andrew Copp.
According to CapFriendly, the Rangers have just under $12 million in cap space this summer, with a number of unrestricted and restricted free agents to kick the tires on.
Copp could find himself testing the free-agent market. If so, might the Kings have an interest in signing the 27-year-old?
From The Jeff Marek Show Podcast:
Andrew Copp has put himself in a really nice position right now. He was a, he’s a UFA coming up at the end of the season. He was a great trade deadline acquisition, as Elliotte mentioned in the first intermission by Chris Drury and the New York Rangers. Playing on great line with Strome and Panarin right now.
And wonder about the marketplace for someone like Andrew Copp. It kind of sounds as if it’s this combination between Phillip Danault’s contract, maybe Zach Hyman‘s contract as well. Danault was six years, $33 million. Zach Hyman seven years, $38.5 million. It sounds like Copp is positioned himself right into that conversation.
Copp went from Winnipeg to New York at the 2022 NHL Trade Deadline, racking up eight goals and 10 assists for 18 points in 16 regular-season games.
In the postseason, he was a big piece for New York, playing in all 20 games while tallying six goals and 14 points.
Evolving Hockey projects the Ann Arbor, Michigan native to fetch a four-year contract at a $5.768 million AAV. Copp plays in all situations, standing out as one of the better penalty killers in the league.
The Kings have approximately $20 million in cap space this summer. Adrian Kempe will get a well-deserved contract extension, but the Los Angeles will have some money to spend on a top-six forward.
Could Copp fit the bill?