Jon Cooper isn’t going anywhere. The long-time Tampa Bay Lightning head coach quietly signed a multi-year extension with the team this offseason, according to Pierre LeBrun of TSN and The Athletic.
It’s a big deal for the Lightning, who’ve had Cooper behind the bench since 2013. That’s practically ancient history in today’s NHL, where most coaches barely last three seasons.
The length of Cooper’s new contract hasn’t been revealed, but we know he’ll be sticking around well past 2025-26. That puts to rest some summer rumors that he might bolt for the new team in Utah, where he has connections with owner Ryan Smith.
Cooper’s track record in Tampa is pretty incredible. He’s racked up a 572-306-83 record in regular-season games, captured two Stanley Cups, and led the team to four conference championships.
This season will be extra special for Cooper – he’ll coach his 1,000th NHL game, all with the Lightning.
By April 2026, he’ll have coached 1,043 games with one team. That puts him in elite company, behind only legends like Barry Trotz (1,196 games with Nashville), Lindy Ruff (1,247 with Buffalo), and Al Arbour (1,500 with the Islanders).
The extension comes at an interesting time. The Lightning have been knocked out in the first round three years straight, which had some fans getting antsy. But the team’s showing faith in Cooper, and they’ve got good reason to be optimistic – their forward group looks stronger than it has in recent seasons.
The timing fits a broader trend, with other coaches locking down their futures. Both Ryan Huska of the Calgary Flames and Kris Knoblauch of the Edmonton Oilers signed multi-year extensions this week.
That leaves just one NHL coach heading into the season without a secure future – Lindy Ruff in Buffalo.
