Jon Cooper has the advantage over Sheldon Keefe. How could he not after back-to-back Stanley Cups and when considering the contents of the most impressive active resume in the NHL?
But between the Tampa Bay Lightning head coach and his counterpart with the Toronto Maple Leafs, it's not necessarily a matter of ability. It's the differing positions the coaches find themselves in during their first-round matchup that sets them apart the most.
Cooper's reality is enviable. Past success means a fraction of the pressure and little consequence for failure. It also means considerably more situational know-how.