Andrew Copp Bio
Andrew Copp is an American professional ice hockey forward currently playing for the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League (NHL). Born on July 8, 1994, in Ann Arbor, Michigan, he was drafted 104th overall by the Winnipeg Jets in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft. Known primarily as a center, Copp has competed in the NHL since 2015 and has built a reputation for two-way responsibility, special teams play, and timely scoring since entering the league.
Copp spent the bulk of his early NHL career with the Winnipeg Jets before a midseason trade sent him to the New York Rangers during the 2021-22 campaign. That summer, he signed a long-term contract with the Detroit Red Wings, where he continues to serve as a versatile middle-six contributor.
Early Life and Background
Andrew Copp was born on July 8, 1994, in Ann Arbor, Michigan, to parents Andy and Anne Marie Copp. His mother worked as a figure skating coach for the University of Michigan Wolverines, while his father coached his youth hockey teams, giving him steady exposure to competitive athletics from a young age. His younger brother, Tyler, also played ice hockey growing up, but eventually chose to pursue golf and attend Mercer University.
As a youth, Copp played in the 2007 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with the Detroit Compuware minor ice hockey team, an early marker of his developing skill set. He attended Skyline High School in Ann Arbor, where his father encouraged him to add football to his athletic routine in order to increase his physicality on the ice for hockey scouts.
Copp continued to play quarterback at Skyline High School and set numerous school records during his senior year. Within the first six games of the 2011-12 season, he had thrown for 1,732 yards and 27 touchdowns, including a state-record 557 yards and seven touchdowns against Pioneer. A broken collarbone suffered in early October cut his senior season short, but he recovered and accepted an NCAA Division I scholarship offer to play for the Michigan Wolverines men’s ice hockey team.
Path to Professional Hockey
Copp played three seasons with the Michigan Wolverines men’s ice hockey team, including one as team captain. In his freshman year, the Wolverines’ final season in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association, he saw limited time on ice while the team struggled offensively, finishing with 11 goals and 10 assists in 38 games. At the end of that freshman season, in his second year of draft eligibility, Copp was ranked 142nd among North American skaters by the NHL Central Scouting Bureau.
He was selected 104th overall by the Winnipeg Jets in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft. After attending the Jets’ development camp, Copp returned to the Wolverines for his sophomore season as an alternate captain, broke out offensively with 29 points to finish second on the team in scoring, and earned an All-Big Ten Honorable Mention. He opened that season as the first recipient of the Big Ten First Star Award after recording five points over two games, and in December he was named to the United States men’s national junior team preliminary roster ahead of the 2014 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships.
Copp returned for his junior season as the 85th captain in the history of the Michigan program and the first junior captain since Luke Glendening in 2010-11, skating in 36 games with 14 goals and 17 assists. For his leadership, he was recognized by the NCAA with All-Big Ten second-team honors before opting to forgo his senior year and signing a three-year entry-level contract with the Jets on March 26, 2015.
Andrew Copp Career
Early Career (2015-2019)
Copp made his NHL debut on April 11, 2015, skating on a line with Lee Stempniak and Matthew Halischuk against the Calgary Flames, and he assisted on Stempniak’s goal in a 5-1 win. He was invited to the Jets’ Rookie Camp in September 2015 and earned a spot on the opening night roster, recording his second career assist in the season opener against the Boston Bruins. His first NHL goal came later that month in a 3-2 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets.
After his entry-level deal, the Jets offered Copp a two-year extension at a $1.5 million average annual value, but he filed for salary arbitration. The neutral arbitrator awarded him a two-year, $4.56 million extension, reflecting his growing two-way role with the organization.
Winnipeg Jets Breakthrough (2015-2022)
Copp settled into a checking-line and penalty-killing role with the Jets, contributing offensively while matching up against opposing top lines. Following a collision with Carolina Hurricanes forward Jordan Staal, he was listed as day-to-day and missed the team’s final three games before the Christmas break during one season, illustrating the physical demands of his deployment.
On March 24, 2021, Copp scored his first career NHL hat-trick, and first four-goal game, in a 5-1 Jets win over the Vancouver Canucks. The performance cemented his value as a depth scorer capable of delivering big nights when promoted up the lineup.
New York Rangers Era (2022)
Copp was traded to the New York Rangers at the 2021-22 trade deadline on March 21, 2022, along with a sixth-round draft pick, in exchange for Morgan Barron, a fifth-round pick, and two conditional second-round picks. He scored his first Rangers goal a few days later on March 25 in a 5-1 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins, easing his transition to a contending roster.
On April 21, in a game against the New York Islanders, Copp recorded his second career hat-trick and became the third player in Rangers history to score a hat-trick in the first period, joining Don Raleigh (1948) and Kelly Kisio (1986). He also became the only Rangers player ever to score the first three goals of a game, capping a memorable late-season run in New York.
Detroit Red Wings Era (2022-Present)
On July 13, 2022, Copp signed a five-year, $28.125 million contract with the Detroit Red Wings, beginning a new chapter in his career. He joined a young Red Wings squad looking to build toward playoff contention, taking on a steady middle-six role with responsibility in all situations.
During the 2024-25 season, his third with Detroit, Copp recorded ten goals and 13 assists for 23 points through 56 regular season games before suffering a torn pectoral muscle injury during a game against the Minnesota Wild on February 23, 2025. On February 26, 2025, he underwent surgery to repair the pectoral with a recovery timeline of 4-6 months, ruling him out for the remainder of the season.
Driving Style and Strengths
Copp is valued primarily for his two-way reliability rather than pure offensive flash. He is trusted as a penalty killer and matchup center, competes hard along the boards and in faceoff circles, and has shown the ability to deliver scoring bursts when promoted in the lineup. His combination of hockey sense, skating, and positional discipline has made him a dependable option for coaches in tight games.
Notable Events and Milestones
Copp’s signature moments include his four-goal game against the Vancouver Canucks on March 24, 2021, and his historic first-period hat-trick for the Rangers against the New York Islanders on April 21, 2022. He was also part of the United States team that won gold at the 2012 IIHF World U18 Championships, recording one assist in six games.
Andrew Copp Family
Family Background and Hockey Lineage
Copp comes from a tightly knit athletic family. His mother, Anne Marie Copp, was a figure skating coach for the University of Michigan Wolverines, and his father, Andy Copp, coached his youth hockey teams, giving him a strong sporting foundation at home. His younger brother, Tyler, also played ice hockey in his youth before shifting his focus to golf and enrolling at Mercer University.
Personal Life
Copp was raised in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and his ties to the University of Michigan area remain a central part of his identity. Public details about his personal relationships and family life beyond his parents and brother are limited in available sources.
2025 Season Performance
The 2024-25 NHL season was a difficult year for Copp and the Detroit Red Wings. Through 56 games, he had produced ten goals and 13 assists for 23 points, providing steady two-way play while the team continued its rebuild around a young core. Detroit’s playoff push remained the central storyline for the franchise entering the second half of the season.
That push was complicated when Copp suffered a torn pectoral muscle on February 23, 2025, in a game against the Minnesota Wild. He underwent surgery three days later on February 26, 2025, with an expected recovery of 4-6 months that ended his season.
Looking ahead, Copp is expected to return fully healthy for the 2025-26 campaign, still under contract with the Red Wings through 2027. His recovery and return to form will be an important subplot for Detroit as the club looks to take the next step in its development cycle.
