The Detroit Red Wings now have two former members of the Michigan Wolverines on their squad heading into the 2022-23 NHL Season, as Michigan alum Dylan Larkin is now joined by former Michigan captain and Ann Arbor native Andrew Copp, who signed a five year contract at the beginning of the NHL's free agency period last month. 

However, their collegiate squad has come under scrutiny after the WilmerHale investigation report into the Wolverines’ program found that head coach Mel Pearson has been engaging in several unprofessional ways. 

Per The Athletic, Pearson has been: 

"....telling players to provide false information on COVID contact-tracing forms, of misleading recruits about how much scholarship money they would receive, and of allegedly calling one player a “Jew.” Pearson also displayed an “inability or unwillingness” to hold the team’s director of hockey operations accountable for conduct that included the “mistreatment of female staff members,” according to a separate investigative report."

According to journalist and former University lecturer John U. Bacon, Pearson did nothing to stop harassment by Director of Hockey Operations Rick Bancroft against several members of the team's sfaff. 

Additionally:

-The “mistreatment of female staff members” by Bancroft, who had been at Michigan since 1991 and was named the team’s director of hockey operations in 2018. (Bancroft retired June 20.)

-The “mistreatment of female staff members” by Bancroft, who had been at Michigan since 1991 and was named the team’s director of hockey operations in 2018. (Bancroft retired June 20

-Pearson’s “inability or unwillingness to hold Bancroft accountable for his conduct.”

-“Pervasive fears among both student athletes and staff members of retaliation by (Pearson) for raising issues.”

-"Inconsistencies in (Pearson’s) recollection, perception, and/or characterization of key incidents and issues as compared with other participants.”

What's more is that Bancroft is accused of turning a blind eye to sexual abuse committed against athletes by the late Dr. Robert Anderson. This entire situation is a dark cloud that has been hanging over the Wolverines since a complaint was first levied against Pearson in 2021.