New York Rangers Add Andrew Copp and Tyler Motte Before NHL Trade Deadline
Mere minutes before the 2022 NHL Trade Deadline, the New York Rangers were able to acquire forwards Andrew Copp and Tyler Motte.
It was a vigorous bidding war between a trifecta of the Colorado Avalanche, New York Rangers, and the Boston Bruins, but with the Avalanche dropping out, the Rangers were able to offer the Winnipeg Jets more in exchange for second-line center/winger Andrew Copp.
The final details of the Andrew Copp transaction are Morgan Barron and two conditional second-round picks and a fifth-rounder in 2023 going to Winnipeg in exchange for Copp and a sixth-round pick in 2023. One of the second-round picks has the potential to become a first if the Rangers advance to the conference final and Copp plays in 50 percent of the playoff games.
During the 2021-22 NHL season, Copp has put together a 13 goal and 22 assist campaign with a +2 +/- rating. The 6’1″ – 205 lbs. skater was effective on the first powerplay unit for the Winnipeg Jets scoring three goals and nine points on the top squad, which will bolster a Rangers unit that already ranks second in the NHL with a powerplay percentage of 26.3%. Whether they bump Ryan Strome to the second unit favoring the replacement of Copp or not is up to management, but they can’t go wrong either way.
In the even-strength play, the New York Rangers will likely settle with Andrew Copp on the third forward line in a scoring role for them. Ryan Strome already has sound chemistry on the second line and it’d be unwise to shake things up.
As for Tyler Motte, the Rangers are giving up a 2023 4th-Round draft selection to acquire the depth forward. In 49-games played for the Vancouver Canucks Motte scored 7 goals and 8 assists scoring a short-handed goal in the process.
What he doesn’t provide in scoring prowess he makes up in grit along the boards. At 5’10” – 190 lbs., Tyler Motte plays with a chip on his shoulder and works the puck up to his teammates as he does the dirty work.
All in all, the New York Rangers are receiving two valuable forwards that are going to be key players in their run for the Stanley Cup in the 2022 playoffs. In the Eastern Conference, it’s going to be a blood bath and the Rangers are going to need every bit of grit from their players in order to surpass the monsters in their path.