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Winnipeg Jets Season Review: Copp(s) and Lowry(s)

By Kyle McCarthy

TORONTO, ON - March 31 In the first period, Toronto Maple Leafs center Tomas Plekanec (19) gets sandwiched between Winnipeg Jets center Andrew Copp (9) and Winnipeg Jets center Adam Lowry (17)The Toronto Maple Leafs took on the Winnipeg Jets at the Air Canada Centre in NHL hockey action.March 31, 2018 (Richard Lautens/Toronto Star via Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - March 31 In the first period, Toronto Maple Leafs center Tomas Plekanec (19) gets sandwiched between Winnipeg Jets center Andrew Copp (9) and Winnipeg Jets center Adam Lowry (17)The Toronto Maple Leafs took on the Winnipeg Jets at the Air Canada Centre in NHL hockey action.March 31, 2018 (Richard Lautens/Toronto Star via Getty Images) /
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The Winnipeg Jets used a lot of young depth on the bottom six. Especially at the center position, where they rotated the fourth line quite a bit.

The Winnipeg Jets depth was always a big piece of their success. Yes, a lot of that depth is high end. They have five or six guys you really have to plan for. You can’t sleep on any of the big names.

But their depth also comes in the normal sense, where role players just go about their business. Two big pieces of that, before and after the Paul Stastny trade? Andrew Copp and Adam Lowry.

Andrew Copp missed exactly one game in this NHL season.  All 82 in the regular season and 16 of 17 in the playoffs. The Winnipeg Jets are better off with Andrew Copp. They were eliminated from the playoffs in exactly ZERO of his games.

This was a fourth line post until the trade of Joel Armia. I’m not sure that justifies Armia getting his own post, but I like to keep the boys together considering they’ll likely be playing big roles with Winnipeg next season.

Lowry missed a bunch of time with an injury but in my eyes is the better player. First off, he’s huge. He’s like a muscular me (about 6’5, 210). The former third rounder set a career high with 82 games and 29 points last season, including 15 goals.

He was definitely beating the pace, registering 21 points with 8 goals in just 45 games. But that’s all he played in 2017-2018, unfortunately. He’s turned into a faceoff ace, putting up a 55% win number in that limited time. He’s a rock solid fourth line center.

With Paul Stastny gone, he may be getting some time on that third line. Which isn’t the end of the world, but on a contender? You can do better.

Copp is fine. A decent faceoff guy, positive Corsi%, versatile. He just has the offensive game of a goaltender. Copp scored goals at the same rate that Juuse Saros had assists (.11 per game). He’s still young and a former fourth rounder isn’t nothing, but he’s not an offensive guy.

That’s not a problem for the second-highest scoring team in the league. Clear some space, play solid defense, and move the puck. Everyone else can score.

Next: Five Reasons Jets Could Collapse In 2018-2019

Look, these aren’t sexy players (statistically. Physically, they’re both very nice looking). But teams need bottom line guys. I love grinders, personally. Steve Downie, Jesper Fast, Tanner Glass. No wait, I can’t stand Tanner Glass.  But whatever, they’re fun. They’re good to watch when your team is good. And the Jets are good, no question.

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