The New York Rangers made a big splash at the trade deadline in order to bring Andrew Copp to town. It was a move that immediately paid dividends, as he was a key contributor in their run to the Eastern Conference Finals. Despite the expectation that Copp would re-sign with the Rangers this offseason, it turns out that's no longer in the plans. According to Arthur Staple of The Athletic, the Rangers are no longer in the running for Copp after the two sides met over the weekend.

This is certainly a surprising decision from the Rangers and one that will have fans a bit worried. Copp was sensational after being brought over in the trade from the Winnipeg Jets. Across 16 games in New York, Copp registered 18 points in the regular season. He added 14 more points in 20 games during the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

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The 28-year-old was expected to be the Rangers' No. 2 center going forward, but that no longer appears to be the case, and the Rangers will be seeking a replacement in free agency.

Copp should have a plethora of suitors on the open market. He'd fit in as a top-6 forward on most teams and is still in the prime of his career. His 53 points in 2022 were a career-high, and he's positioned himself well to earn a significant payday this offseason. It just won't be with the Rangers.

It's unclear who the Rangers will be targeting this offseason as a potential replacement, but the decision to part ways with Copp after just half a season is certainly a surprising one given the role he played on the team down the stretch last year.