Lightning sign head coach Jon Cooper to multi-year extension

HC at Noon discussion on how good and entertaining Lightning vs. Bruins was, with a few words on fourth liner Anthony Cirelli’s worth to the Lightning, and why coach Cooper deserves more credit than you think for their success.

The Tampa Bay Lightning have handed head coach Jon Cooper a multi-year contract extension, the team announced Tuesday.

“I am very pleased to announce Jon’s extension today,” general manager Julien BriseBois said in the team’s press release. “His ability to forge impactful relationships with everyone from players to staff has been a trademark of his tenure with the organization and he is the absolute best coach for our hockey team. Coop’s ability to develop a strong culture while continually adapting has been a big part of the team’s success. He has helped set high standards for our organization with his unrelenting drive for excellence. I would like to thank Coop and his family for their continuous commitment to the organization, as well as to the Tampa Bay community, and I look forward to working in partnership with Jon for years to come.”

Currently the league’s longest-tenured bench boss, this is Cooper’s sixth season at the helm. He is the club’s all-time winningest coach (301) and, under his guidance, the club has missed the post-season just once. With this season’s Presidents’ Trophy already in hand, Tampa Bay is headed to the playoffs again this season as Stanley Cup favourites.

The terms of his new deal were not announced by the team.

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