When word leaked out of Tampa Friday that an announcement concerning a contract extension would be coming down regarding a member of the Lightning, the initial reaction was that it would involve pending free agent Steven Stamkos.
Instead, it was the coach who received a new deal, not the captain.
Indeed, Lightning general manager Steve Yzerman has announced that the organization had signed bench boss Jon Cooper to a multi-year contract extension, a fitting reward for a progressive-thinking coach who has led the Lightning to 112-70-23 record and a .602 winning percentage in 205 games. More importantly, he has guided the Lightning to the Stanley Cup playoffs in each of his two full seasons since coming to Tampa Bay, including a trip to the Stanley Cup final in 2015.