Andrew Copp looked as relieved as he sounded.
He had just scored what stood up as the winning goal for the Detroit Red Wings, who finish up a stretch of playing seven of their first eight games at Little Caesars Arena when they host the San Jose Sharks on Saturday, Oct. 17.
The goal in Thursday's 2-1 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers
was Copp's first of the season, and he made it clear how welcome it was."Too many chances that didn't go in," he said. "Hopefully they come like grapes. It's really frustrating. You're not going to get grade-A chances night after night, it's just the way the league is. It's too tight checking. But they've got to start going in at some point. I've had some really good chances, some really good looks kind of walking
down and maybe missed my spot by a couple inches here or there, and then you're kind of fighting it and you're gripping a little bit tighter. So good to see one go in, and hopefully we can kind of keep it going."
Copp had an open shot into the net, as Flyers goaltender Joseph Woll and his teammates were focused on Michael Rasmussen battling for the puck by the right goal post. When Copp put the puck in the net, it was Rasmussen's first point in 32 games, dating to Jan. 5 of this year. Rasmussen had just 14 points in 64 games in 2025-26, his lowest output since 12 points in 40 games during the pandemic-shortened 2020-21 season.
"I don't think we're going to − well, I know we're not − we're not going to sit here and evaluate Ras on points," coach Todd McLellan said. "Everybody else in the world can, but we're not. His contribution to the team so far has been through his size, which I think he's used well. He's been penalty killing, he checks, he's taken hits to create opportunities for other players, he's loosened pucks up on the fore check.
"We talked to him when training camp came around about having a fresh start and we'd give him every opportunity to have that. I think he's held up his end of the bargain."
Rasmussen, 27, is being paid like a player from whom production is expected, with a contract that runs through 2027-28 at a $3.2 million annual average value. But ever since a leg injury derailed his season in February 2023, his effectiveness has diminished. He's currently on the third line, with Copp at center; on Thursday, Lucas Raymond started the game with those two, in the spot that had been occupied by Keegan Kolesar.
Copp, 32, is in the last year of a five-year deal with a $5.625 million cap hit. His best numbers in Detroit were 13 goals in 2023-24, his second season, and 43 points last season. He's a hard worker, but the Wings could use more in the way of production, especially considering he averages around two minutes of power play time per game.
Contact Helene St. James at Hstjames@freepress.com. Read more on the Detroit Red Wings and sign up for our Red Wings newsletter.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Goals like grapes? Detroit Red Wings need more from Andrew Copp, Michael Rasmussen
