Believe it or not, Tampa Bay Lightning head coach Jon Cooper became only the fifth NHL head coach to achieve 1,000 NHL regular-season games with a single franchise.
It was a beautiful New Year’s Eve for a former public defender and criminal attorney. The Lightning defeated the Anaheim Ducks 4-3 in overtime in Orange County, CA, on Dec. 31, 2025. It was Cooper’s 1,000th NHL contest.
Since joining the Lightning on Mar. 25, 2013, Cooper has added two Stanley Cups, one President’s Trophy, 11 NHL playoff qualifications, and the 4 Nations Face-off trophy. 2026 will be even bigger for the Bolts’ head coach. First, the Bolts will host the Boston Bruins at Raymond James Stadium for the second-ever outdoor game in Florida on Feb. 1. Please don’t confuse it with the 2026 NHL Winter Classic, which took place at loanDepot Park in Miami. Cooper will experience something on a different level in front of a 70,000+ crowd in an open-space NFL stadium. After adding a historical event to his resume, a Canadian-born coach will debut at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy as Team Canada’s bench boss.
Growing up, the Lightning bench boss played lacrosse. Despite not having a professional hockey background, Cooper is a rare kind who has coached the sport at various levels, from junior hockey to minor leagues to the NHL. He found success throughout his career, winning three Robertson Cups (NAHL), the Clark Cup (USHL), and the Calder Cup (AHL).
His lacrosse, law, and hockey experience combined give the Lightning and Team Canada coach a new perspective. His style is all about patience, philosophy, and communication. The Lightning had a slow start to the season with a 1-4-2 record across the first two weeks. There were rumors about Cooper being in the hot seat. Not so fast. By November of 2025, the Bolts improved to six wins. Eventually, they crawled their way up to a 25-13-3 record, which is first place in the Eastern Conference, including a seven-game winning streak. It would be hard to achieve without a coach who believes in his players through good and bad times.
The fans love Jon Cooper, too. He has the entire country supporting him and Team Canada. Lightning players Anthony Cirelli, Brayden Point, and Brandon Hagel will join Coach Cooper, along with the Bolts’ general manager, Julien BriseBois, in Italy.