According to MLive’s Ansar Khan, Red Wings forward Dylan Larkin remains out for an indefinite period of time due to his upper-body injury. As such, it’s entirely possible, if not probable, that the Wings will start the 2026-2027 season with Andrew Copp centering the Wings’ top line, with Alex DeBrincat and Lucas Raymond on Copp’s wings:
“I don’t know when Dylan’s going to be back; I don’t know how quickly he’ll get up to speed,” coach Todd McLellan said on Saturday. “So that’s Copper spot for now and we’ll see what happens after that.”
Copp centered a productive second line with Alex DeBrincat and Patrick Kane for much of last season. Kane signed with the Blackhawks. Now Copp is centering DeBrincat and Lucas Raymond.
“Obviously, different types of players, righty, lefty, but I think those two have a chemistry for sure,” Copp said. “I think Cat and I have a chemistry. Ray and I haven’t played as much together, so trying to figure out exactly where each other are all going to be.
“Obviously, I need to be around the net, winning battles below the goal line, driving through the middle, especially on entries, and kicking out, giving them time and space. But I’ve got to be available, too, as the one lefty on the line without Kaner hanging out on the side.
“I think we’ve kind of had some ups and downs throughout the first few days. A couple things that almost clicked, that I think can work if we get a little bit more time together. And then we got to produce right away. Hopefully with the preseason games, we find a little bit of a groove and some confidence going into the regular season.”
Continued (paywall)
