Jon Cooper Stays In Tampa Bay, Signs An Extension Through The 2024-2025 Season

By Jordan Long

The Tampa Bay Lightning will start their title defense tomorrow night when they host the Pittsburgh Penguins.  Tampa Bay is looking to win 3 straight this season which would make them the first team to do so since the New York Islanders won 4 consecutive Cups from 1980 to 1983.  Tampa Bay decided it was time to give Head Coach Jon Cooper a contract extension which will go through the 2024-2025 season. The financial terms weren’t announced.

                Cooper was hired by Tampa Bay after they fired Guy Boucher during the 2013 season.  They needed a change of leadership.  Boucher finished with a record of 97-79-20, a winning percentage of .546.  Boucher’s best year for Tampa Bay was his first, 2011.  Tampa Bay went 46-25-11 for 103 points.  In the postseason Tampa Bay knocked off Pittsburgh in 7 games.  They swept Washington before falling in the Eastern Conference Finals to the Boston Bruins in 7 games.  After that, they failed to even earn a spot in the postseason. Following a 13-18-1 start to the 2012-2013 season, Boucher was let go.  Cooper finished the year as the Head Coach after he was promoted from the American Hockey League.  Tampa Bay went 5-8-3 under him.

                Tampa Bay kept him after the 2013 season.  All Cooper has done is win.  Tampa Bay has earned a playoff spot 7 times with Cooper and only missed the postseason in 2013 and 2017. In the postseason, Tampa Bay advanced to the Stanley Cup Final 3 times while winning twice.  The only disappointing Stanley Cup Final came in 2015.  They lost to the Chicago Blackhawks in 6 games.

                According to ESPN.com, General Manager Julien BriseBois said, “Unequivocally, Coop is the best person for the job. He is a great leader, spokesperson, and ambassador for our organization. We are lucky to have him as our head coach and I very much look forward to our continued partnership.”

                This is a great move for Tampa Bay.  Cooper has a chance to earn a 3^rd straight Cup.  Even if he fails this season, he should still coach them to a playoff spot.  Cooper doesn’t have to worry about job security with this extension on his contract.  Tampa Bay is expecting another Stanley Cup in the next 4 years before his contract runs out.  Even if they don’t, Cooper has been successful with Tampa Bay and is the winningest coach in their history.