Lightning Coach Rightfully Lands Huge Gigs - The Hockey News
Jon Cooper has been hired for some very important events.
thehockeynews.comI don’t have live access to the latest news right now. Here’s a brief overview based on recent public reporting up to 2026, but please let me know if you’d like me to pull current updates.
Key points about Jon Cooper (as of early 2026)
- Coaching status with Tampa Bay Lightning: Prior to 2026, Cooper was the long-time head coach of the Lightning, having led the team to multiple playoffs and two Stanley Cups. In 2025, there was public discussion about his future with the team, but reports from that period suggested the organization planned to retain him for the following season [general coverage from NHL outlets around 2024–2025]. If you want the exact latest sentence from a specific article, I can look it up for you.
- Personal and team-related developments: In February 2026, reports indicated Cooper was temporarily away from coaching to attend a family matter after the death of his father, with the team citing he would be back after addressing the situation. This was covered by several outlets at the time, noting the expected return date and the support from the Lightning staff [The Hockey News / HockeyFeed coverage from Feb 2026]. If you’d like, I can fetch the exact articles and dates for precise citations.
- Other coaching roles: Over the years, Cooper has been involved with Team Canada at major events, including Olympic contexts, and has been noted in various outlets for his leadership and strategic contributions to teams beyond the Lightning [The Hockey News summaries from 2024–2026]. I can provide direct quotes or article links if you want deeper sourcing.
Would you like me to fetch current, up-to-date articles on Jon Cooper and the Lightning, and provide a concise summary with sources? If you have a preferred outlet (e.g., The Athletic, ESPN, CBC, The Hockey News), tell me and I’ll tailor the search.