Big statement regarding Jon Cooper's future with the Lightning
For those who haven't been following what's happening with the Tampa Bay Lightning, know that things are getting shaken up.
Here's a summary:
On Saturday, head coach Jon Cooper made a bold decision against the Buffalo Sabres.
During the third period of the game, Cooper surprised everyone by benching Steven Stamkos, Nikita Kucherov, and Brayden Point.
Kucherov, Point, and Stamkos didn't see any ice time in the third period.
A strong message was sent, and while some media outlets are even reporting "internal divisions," many were curious to see how the players would respond the following day.
The result was the worst possible response.
Yesterday, Cooper and the Lightning faced off against the Carolina Hurricanes, and after two periods they had only managed four shots on goal, none of which came in the second period. They ended up losing 6-0.
This marked their fifth straight loss and eighth loss in 10 games.
A strong statement about Jon Cooper's future
Following this tumultuous weekend for the Lightning, the excellent Maxim Lapierre made a bold statement about Jon Cooper's future in Tampa Bay:
I'm not saying it's intentional, but if the Lightning have zero shots in a period, it's not because they didn't want to."
Meanwhile, Louis Robitaille, head coach of the Gatineau Olympiques, had this to say:
Really interesting stuff. What do you think? Did Cooper go too far? Do you believe he's lost his locker room and that this is the beginning of the end for him in Tampa Bay?
For more details:
| POLL | ||
MARS 6 | 323 ANSWERS Big statement regarding Jon Cooper's future with the Lightning Do you think Jon Cooper should be fired? | ||
| Yes | 69 | 21.4 % |
| No | 254 | 78.6 % |
| List of polls | ||
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![Feb 15, 2025; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; [Imagn Images direct customers only] Team Canada goalie Jordan Binnington (50) stops Team United States forward Matthew Tkachuk (19) in the first period during a 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey game at the Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-Imagn Images](https://i.marqueur.com/habsetlnh/medium/531009.webp "Feb 15, 2025; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; [Imagn Images direct customers only] Team Canada goalie Jordan Binnington (50) stops Team United States forward Matthew Tkachuk (19) in the first period during a 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey game at the Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-Imagn Images")
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![Feb 17, 2025; Boston, MA, USA; [Imagn Images direct customers only] Team Canada goalie Jordan Binnington (50) during the second period in a 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey game against Team Finland at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images](https://i.marqueur.com/habsetlnh/medium/530730.webp "Feb 17, 2025; Boston, MA, USA; [Imagn Images direct customers only] Team Canada goalie Jordan Binnington (50) during the second period in a 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey game against Team Finland at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images")
