Copp likes Return to Play format, anxious for timeline

WINNIPEG - Even though Tuesday's announcement was only a format - as opposed to a full timeline - it was enough to shift Andrew Copp's training up a notch.

"I think it's nice for us now, knowing who we're facing. It helped a little bit with the workout today. You're working toward something now," said Copp. "You know a best-of-five against Calgary is coming up, which we're excited about, to find our way into the playoffs.

"We don't really feel like, one way or another, that this is unfair or more fair than any other situation. We're just anxious to go out and play."

The full 24-team Return to Play concept was the result of constant communication between the National Hockey League, National Hockey League Players Association, and five current NHL players, including Copp's teammate - and roommate - Mark Scheifele.

"Mark and I obviously talk a lot. I was pretty up-to-date with what was going on there," said Copp. "We have semi-regular group chats with our team, either via text, FaceTime, or Zoom. Guys had a pretty good idea what was coming. Your part of the process, but not in the day-to-day as much as Mark was."

There was a lot of information to take in from the announcement, but as always, Copp had gone through every detail prior to meeting with the media via a video call on Wednesday.

He's currently in his home state of Michigan, but will likely make the trip back down to Florida - where he spent the majority of the season pause so far - to get back on the ice.

The 25-year-old forward won't make the trip up to Canada until closer to the official start of training camp, which the NHL announced likely won't be any earlier than the first half of July.

The mandatory two-week quarantine in Canada would prevent him from getting on the ice, so he plans to wait until that order is lifted before returning to Winnipeg for training camp.

With 10 cities still in the running to be one of the two hub cities used by the NHL to continue the season, Copp hopes for one thing regardless of which cities are selected.

"My biggest worry is ice conditions," Copp said. "Especially if we're playing multiple games in a day that the rink and the NHL are able to - especially in a warm climate like Dallas or Vegas - make sure the ice is in good enough condition for us to play on."

It's a critical point because once the games start, teams don't have a lot of time to get up to speed. Sure, they'll have the training camp leading in, but with a best-of-five Qualifying Round series serving as the gateway to the First Round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, Copp knows the Jets will have to be at their best right away.

In fact, that concept reminds him of the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship - an event he's played in before, serving as an alternate captain for the United States in 2014.

"If you're not ready to go right way, you're going back home and continuing your summer. It will be important to get off on the right foot right away," said Copp. "At the World Juniors, if you're not ready - maybe not in the first round robin game or the second if you're on US or Canada - but if you're not ready in the first period of that quarterfinal game, your tournament can be done pretty quick. That's going to be an important part, starting fast."

As far as the off-ice life goes while in the still-to-be-named hub city, Copp knows players and team personnel will have to be smart. It won't be like any other normal road trip with team dinners or other activities.

"You're used to the team dinners and stuff, but it's not like it's a new season where you're building chemistry out of nowhere with new guys, younger guys coming up from the draft or the minors," said Copp.

"It will be interesting to possibly be more separate from each other than you think. That being said, if we have the ability to test and we can have our own bubble with trainers, coaches, and players - and we keep that as tight as possible - you might have more interaction than you would think."

Then, there is the testing.

Deputy Commissioner of the NHL, Bill Daly, outlined what the testing protocol might look like for players during their time in the hub city.

"We will have regular daily testing protocol where players are tested every evening, and those results are obtained before they would leave their hotel rooms the next morning," Daly said on Tuesday. "We'll know if we have a positive test and whether the player has to self‑quarantine himself as a result of that positive test."

Copp hasn't been tested before, but like many, he's seen what they look like.

"I haven't been tested, but I've heard it's painful," said Copp.

"It's going to be something that is necessary for us to play. I feel like that's a wait-and-see, and take that as it comes. Health and safety is at the forefront of all the issues. If we can find a way to be as healthy and safe as possible, be able to play some hockey, play in the playoffs and win the Stanley Cup, you want to take that opportunity."

There is still a long way to go before the tournament is a reality. But for now, Copp is happy to get an idea of what to expect in the coming weeks.

It also helps him nail down what his workouts will look like going forward.

"You want to ramp up, but at the same time you're anxiously awaiting a timeline," said Copp. "You want to make sure you're ready to go for the playoffs and ramp up at the appropriate time. When they have a timeline for us, we'll have ample time to ramp up."