Lightning Head Coach Jon Cooper Takes Personal Leave Amidst Family Tragedy
By Gabriel Foley (https://www.prohockeyrumors.com/author/gabriel-foley) | February 25, 2026
The Tampa Bay Lightning will be without their head coach, Jon Cooper, for the team's Wednesday and Thursday matchups. Cooper is taking a personal leave of absence following the death of his father, as reported by NHL.com's Benjamin Pierce (https://x.com/BenjaminJReport/status/2026674632598642974?s=20). Cooper had been in Milan, Italy for the Winter Olympics, where he led Team Canada to a Silver medal finish.
The Olympic championship game between the USA and Canada went into extra time, with Connor McDavid clinching the 4-Nations win with an overtime goal. However, Canada missed out on the Gold medal due to a goal from Jack Hughes of the New Jersey Devils. This win came just three days after the USA women's hockey team secured the Gold medal over Canada's women's team with their own sudden-death goal.
Cooper was vocal about the Olympic's 3v3 overtime structure, stating that it doesn't resemble hockey with two players removed from the ice for both sides, as reported by Michael Traikos of The Hockey News (https://thehockeynews.com/news/latest-news/canada-and-usa-olympic-gold-medal-final-recap). This 3v3 format was a new change this season, after the IIHF had long operated with a 4v4 overtime structure. In contrast, the NHL's 4-Nation Face-Off featured 5v5 overtime.
Despite Cooper's absence, his players still returned from Milan with a medal. The Lightning have a strong track record, making the playoffs in 11 of the last 12 NHL seasons. They've won the Stanley Cup twice, back-to-back in 2020 and 2021, and made the Cup Finals twice more, in 2015 and 2022. Tampa Bay is currently leading the NHL's Atlantic Division, setting them up for another playoff run.
Assistant coach Jeff Halpern stepped in during Cooper's brief leave during the 2021 COVID season. Halpern remains in the same role and is likely the top candidate to take over as Tampa Bay's head coach. The team's official choice for a short-term replacement has not yet been announced.
But here's where it gets controversial... Cooper's outspoken nature and strong opinions on the Olympic overtime structure could spark debate. And this is the part most people miss... The Lightning's success under Cooper's leadership is undeniable, but how will his absence impact the team's performance in the upcoming season? We invite you to share your thoughts in the comments below.
