The Leafs should pounce on Andrew Copp if he makes it to free agency; Kings could be the team to beat
Andrew Copp, 27, has informed the New York Rangers he will be testing free agency. The speculation can now begin as to where Copp will land. Will he stay with the Rangers or will he have a new home? The LA Kings are one possibility.
According to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman, Copp is a potential fit for the Kings. With the Leafs putting Ilya Mikyehev's rights on the block, it's highly unlikely that he'll be a Leaf next season, so, in my opinion, Leafs GM Kyle Dubas should definitely look at Copp as a replacement.
Copp had a solid season, putting up 21 goals and 32 assists, for a total of 53 points in 72 games. That's not bad for a player who doesn't see a lot of first line action. He would definitely fit into the Leafs system. He's the type of gritty player the Buds desperately need. His scoring ability mixed with his willingness to battle in the corners is something the Buds are hurting for.
The Leafs have the cap space for a player like Copp, as his contract will likely have an AAV in the neighborhood of $4 million. It might require some contracts going out, like that of Justin Holl or Petr Mrazek, but a $4M cap hit is definitely something the Leafs could accommodate with a little creativity.
