Cooper signs contract to remain Lightning coach

Jon Cooper signed a multiyear contract Tuesday to remain coach of the Tampa Bay Lightning.

The 51-year-old, who is the NHL's longest-tenured coach, guided the Lightning (59-14-4) to the Presidents' Trophy this season. Tampa Bay is the fourth team in NHL history to win at least 59 games, joining the 1977-78 Montreal Canadiens (59), 1976-77 Canadiens (60) and 1995-96 Detroit Red Wings (62).
"I am very pleased to announce Jon's extension today," Lightning general manager Julien BriseBois said. "His ability to forge impactful relationships with everyone from players to staff has been a trademark of his tenure with the organization and he is the absolute best coach for our hockey team.
"[His] ability to develop a strong culture while continually adapting has been a big part of the team's success. He has helped set high standards for our organization with his unrelenting drive for excellence. I would like to thank [him] and his family for their continuous commitment to the organization, as well as to the Tampa Bay community, and I look forward to working in partnership with Jon for years to come."

Hired March 25, 2013, Cooper is 301-157-44 in seven seasons with the Lightning and no NHL team has more wins (297) or standings points (635) since his first full season of 2013-14. A 2014 Jack Adams Award finalist for NHL coach of the year, Cooper has won at least 50 games in a season three times.
Cooper has coached the Lightning to at least the Eastern Conference Final in three of the past four seasons. They lost the 2015 Stanley Cup Final in six games to the Chicago Blackhawks, were defeated by the Pittsburgh Penguins in seven games in the 2016 conference final, and lost the conference final in seven games to the Washington Capitals last season. The Penguins and Capitals each went on to win the Stanley Cup.
The Lightning have won eight of their past nine games and have 122 points this season, 21 more than the next closest teams (Boston Bruins, Calgary Flames). Tampa Bay next plays the Capitals at Amalie Arena on Saturday (7 p.m. ET; NHLN, SUN, NBCSWA, NHL.TV).