Lightning lock up coach Jon Cooper to multi-year contract extension
The Tampa Bay Lightning have signed coach Jon Cooper to a multi-year contract extension.
The team announced the news Friday. Cooper led the Lightning to the Stanley Cup Final last season where Tampa lost in six games to the Chicago Blackhawks. According to Joe Smith of the Tampa Bay Times, Cooper was in the final year of his contract.
“He has his own style and it’s probably worked at every different level he’s been at, and he’s had success at every different level,” Lightning defenseman Matt Carle said of Cooper on Wednesday at Anaheim. “He’s pretty much the same as he was last year. I’m sure it has been a little more challenging for him because we haven’t played as well as we have in the past. That’s probably been the biggest difference.”
So far this season the Lightning have struggled to a 12-11-3 record. Tampa currently ranks 25th in the NHL in goals scored per-game at 2.31. The team has also faced questions on whether it will re-sign captain Steven Stamkos. Stamkos, a former 60-goal scorer, is a pending unrestricted free agent and has yet to sign with the team.
Cooper has a 112-70-53 record in two-plus years with the Lightning. On April 11, 2015 he recorded his 100th win, making him fifth-fastest coach to do so among those who debuted in the league since 2000.
Said Anaheim Ducks coach Bruce Boudreau on Cooper, “He’s a winner. He’s been a winner everywhere he’s gone.”
The Lightning play at the San Jose Sharks on Saturday evening. The Bolts beat the Ducks, 2-1, on Wednesday to kick off a three-game California road trip.
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Josh Cooper is an editor for Puck Daddy on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at puckdaddyblog@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @joshuacooper
