Detroit Red Wings

Copp Joins Red Wings’ Injury List; Pearson Will Miss Training Camp

Published

2 years ago

September 21, 2022

Andrew Copp had offseason abdominal surgery. He will be ready for game action the first week of the NHL season.

Detroit Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman said Wednesday that Top 6 forward Andrew Copp had offseason abdominal surgery and won’t return to action until the first week of the season.

He adds to a Detroit injury list that already includes defensemen Jake Walman (shoulder surgery) and Mark Pysyk (Achilles surgery), plus right wing Robby Fabbri (knee surgery).

Michigan native Copp signed a five-year contract with the Red Wings with a $5.625 million annual average value. He is projected to be Detroit’s No. 2 center this season and be a regular on the penalty killing unit.

“I don’t anticipate (Copp) participating in the preseason games but I expect him ready to go in roughly a week, if not sooner, into the regular season,” Yzerman said as he met with media to discuss the start of training camp this week.

New Red Wings forward (and Michigan hockey product) Andrew Copp visited U-M football practice.

Photo: @umichhockey pic.twitter.com/5E1pbFpSCk

— Brad Galli (@BradGalli) September 20, 2022

This Red Wings will be in Traverse City Thursday through Monday. The team will play its first preseason game next Tuesday at Pittsburgh. The following night they will play the Chicago Blackhawks at Little Caesars Arena.

According to Yzerman’s update, Walman will be back in the middle of November. Fabbri and Pysyk won’t be back until after New Year’s Day.

“I anticipate — and it’s a cautious return for Robby — sometime in the New Year, sometime after Jan. 1, maybe Jan. 15,” Yzerman said.

Pearson Will Miss Training Camp

Yzerman also said that Red Wings prospect Chase Pearson (140th overall in 2015) won’t be at training camp. “Chase is dealing with some personal things and is out indefinitely,” Yzerman said.

Pearson, 25, played three games for the Red Wings last season. This would seem to be a now-or-never season for Pearson. The former University of Maine player, the son of former NHLer Scott Pearson, has played four seasons in Grand Rapids. He is no longer waiver exempt. Pearson played well two seasons ago, but his level play wasn’t as impressive last season. He is a big center who projects to be a role player at the NHL level.