Could the NY Islanders potentially lure Jon Cooper to Long Island?

There are few head coaches currently in the NHL with Jon Cooper's resume. A two-time Stanley Cup Champion, three Eastern Conference titles, a 4 Nations Face-Off Championship, and the longest tenured head coach in the league, Cooper is as good as it gets.

Appointed as Head Coach of the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2013, the Bolts are the only team Cooper has known in his head coaching career, so why would he ever leave unless forced out?

Rumors have begun swirling today that Cooper signed a one-year extension to remain the Lightning Head Coach through the 2025-26 season. A coach of his caliber could command much more job security, but instead, he's elected for one year.

Could the Isles land Jon Cooper?

As the NY Islanders begin their search for a new General Manager, one name most expect to interview for the position is Lightning Assistant GM Mathieu Darche. Darche and Cooper have a history together, winning consecutive Stanley Cups and being among the league's best each and every year.

If Darche were to become the next Islanders GM, could he lure Cooper to join him to Long Island?

The easy answer would be no, but Cooper has a history on Long Island. The Prince George, BC, native is an alumnus of Hofstra University and a letterman with the men's lacrosse program, playing in the shadow of Nassau Coliseum in the late '80s.

“I went to a ton of Islanders games,” Cooper told reporters in 2021, amid the Lightning and Islanders matchup in the Eastern Conference Finals. “I used to sit up there in the upper deck and cheer for them, and it was just a great atmosphere. That little time they moved from Nassau (to Brooklyn) was kind of a sad time because we liked going back there. They’re passionate fans, and you have to love that about being in the National Hockey League … and being in different buildings where fans are so passionate. I know how it is because I was there firsthand. It’s a cool environment to be in, looking forward to it. A lot of fond memories of being on the Island.”

Cooper would also have familiarality with Darche, as someone who knows the type of team he's looking to put in front of him.

On top of that, he'd be in a state-of-the-art arena, and with a name like his behind the bench, Long Island would become a much more desirable destination for free agents.

It may be a long shot, but a splash like Jon Cooper into this organization could put this team on the right path much sooner than many expect. If he's looking for a new opportunity outside of Tampa, the Islanders could be the perfect landing spot.