MLive’s Ansar Khan examines the Red Wings’ depth chart at center minus one Dylan Larkin today, discussing the statuses of Andrew Copp, J.T. Compher, Marco Kasper, Michael Rasmussen and Nate Danielson (in that order):
Andrew Copp: He is the most logical choice to fill that top-line center spot until a better option becomes available. He’d center Lucas Raymond, a shooter (who needs to shoot more), and probably Emmitt Finnie, who’d bring much-needed speed that would be lacking without Larkin. Copp fit in well the second half of the season on the second line with Alex DeBrincat and Patrick Kane and produced career highs in assists (34) and points (43) to go along with nine goals. He was the team’s most effective faceoff man (54.2 percent).
J.T. Compher: He hasn’t been able to secure the second-line center spot, and his production has declined in each of his three seasons in Detroit (11 goals, 28 points in 82 games last season). But he’d be the best option to center a line with DeBrincat and perhaps newly acquired Viktor Arvidsson.
Marco Kasper: If he plays like he did the second half of his rookie season, Kasper would be a fixture in the top six and possibly the second-line center. The team tried everything to get him going last season, playing him at center, on the wing and on every line, but he couldn’t gain traction (nine goals, 19 points).
Continued (paywall); as Khan suggests, the Red Wings rather desperately need to acquire a center in exchange for Dylan Larkin, even if that means trading “futures” to a 3rd team in order to maximize Larkin’s value.
