Big Statement About Jon Cooper's Future in Tampa Bay

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Julien Trekker
March 6, 2023 (2:37 PM)

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If you haven't been keeping up with the Tampa Bay Lightning, things are definitely changing.

Here's a recap:

During Saturday's game against the Buffalo Sabres, head coach Jon Cooper made a bold decision. He benched Steven Stamkos, Nikita Kucherov, and Brayden Point during the third period. As a result, Kucherov, Point, and Stamkos did not play in the third period. Some media outlets are reporting that there may be "internal divisions" within the team.

The following day, the Lightning faced off against the Carolina Hurricanes. After two periods, they only managed to get four shots on goal, none of which were in the second period. They ended up losing the game 6-0.

This marked the team's fifth straight loss and their eighth loss in 10 games.

After this tumultuous weekend for the Lightning, Maxim Lapierre made a serious statement about Jon Cooper's future with the team:

"In my opinion, this is the beginning of the end. I have great respect for this coach, he's done great things, but I don't think you sit three guys like that, especially when you've won Stanley Cups with them.

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:

"He certainly wouldn't make that decision if he hadn't won Cups with Tampa. There's going to have to be a lot of work done behind the scenes. Is it too late? I don't know, I'm not in the locker room, but Jon Cooper has never been intimidated in that regard."

This is all very interesting. 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?

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