It wasn't just a rough off-season though. It was an extreme.
Why not try Copp at 2C?
Speculation that he will fail is not a reason to not try it. That is a reason to not continue it after an adequate trial period. Certainly it could be tried in pre-season when there isn't even anything on the line.
Well, for all the Little hate on this board I still see him as a better C than Copp. I see Copp as a solid bottom sixer. Maybe there is upside there that will start to show more this year. I think the right answer is to split up Nickels and Wheels and redo the lines accordingly. But if he gets a few starts higher up the lineup and makes good on it, great for him. I will be happy. I do acknowledge that even though Little (imho) is a better C than Copp, he and Laine don't click.
So if it is about how to help Laine, given what I believe is a public ultimatum by Laine and his agent about utilization, I don't think Patrick would take well to playing with Copp.
"Hey Patrick, you are really important to us as we have been telling you all summer (even though we weren't willing to talk about your contract until a couple weeks ago - there is an innocent explanation for that - trust us). Listen, you are so important that we have heard your concern, we understand you want more time playing on the top line, and so we are going to put you with Copp. Now that we have solved that problem, here is the contract please - sign on the bottom line"