Whatever your opinion is of Detroit Red Wings forward Andrew Copp as a player, you can’t deny one facet about the man.

He calls it as he sees it. And in Copp’s opinion, if he sees anything other than the Red Wings occupying a playoff spot at the end of the regular season, in his mind, the season can only be deemed as a failure.

He doesn’t want to hear about progress, about the process, or about staying the course and sticking with the plan.

To him, the end result is all that matters.

I’m just gonna say this and leave it here, I think Andrew Copp is going to have a solid season this time round. #LGRW pic.twitter.com/AOReb7Zj1I

— Marco Kasper Ambassador of Australia (@JPhoenix7) September 22, 2025

“For me, I mean, it’s a team do-or-die type of year,” Copp said on the team’s website. “Like, we have to make the playoffs.

“It’s our only goal, it’s our only focus. And anything short of that is going to be looked at as not good enough.”

He’s absolutely spot on with this analysis. The time for pussyfooting around the issue should be put into the past tense.

It might not be now or never for the Red Wings, in point of fact. However, after nine straight years of being on the outside of the playoff picture, it sure feels that way.

McLellan Felt the Red Wings Should’ve Made the Playoffs

Time is of the essence. And let’s not forget what Detroit coach Todd McLellan announced sternly at the conclusion of last season.

He was adamant that the Wings should’ve been a playoff team.

“We were good enough as a group to make the playoffs, and we didn’t,” McLellan said. “And we proved that with the win streaks that we went through. We proved that with the games that we were in.

“We were good enough to make it. We’re good enough right now if we perform the way we can.”

No more excuses. Andrew Copp has mitts. 😁😁#LGRW pic.twitter.com/vkItAwh62S

— jesse (@jdawgLGRW) September 22, 2025

Copp echoes those sentiments and doesn’t think it does the club any good to shy away from the issue. He thinks they should embrace the pressure, the need to make the playoffs this season, and utilize it as a motivating challenge.

“I don’t think we can be fearful of admitting that,” Copp said. “I think we need to look at our goals straight in the eye. And everything we do from now until April is to make the playoffs.”