Lightning's Jon Cooper to miss games after father's death

Cooper will be absent from upcoming matchups against Maple Leafs and Hurricanes

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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Jon Cooper, the head coach of the Tampa Bay Lightning, will miss the team's upcoming games against the Toronto Maple Leafs and Carolina Hurricanes following the death of his father, Robert Cooper. No additional details about Robert Cooper's passing were provided.

Why it matters

Cooper is the NHL's longest-tenured coach and recently became the second fastest to reach 600 career victories. His absence will be felt as the Lightning look to maintain their position in the standings during a crucial part of the season.

The details

Cooper returned to North America on Monday after coaching Canada's silver medal-winning team at the Milan Cortina Olympics, where they lost 2-1 to Team USA in overtime in the gold-medal game. The 58-year-old Cooper was raised in Prince George, British Columbia, in a dual-citizenship household, with his mother, Christine, moving to Canada from San Francisco after marrying Robert, a Prince George native who went on to establish a construction company. Christine passed away in November 2020.

  • On Wednesday, February 26, 2026, Cooper will miss the Lightning's home game against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
  • On Thursday, February 27, 2026, Cooper will miss the Lightning's visit to face the Carolina Hurricanes.

The players

Jon Cooper

The head coach of the Tampa Bay Lightning and the second fastest coach to reach 600 career NHL victories.

Robert Cooper

Jon Cooper's father, who recently passed away.

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What they’re saying

“Every time you hit a button on it, you'd hear Al Michaels' voice call out, 'Do you believe in Miracles? Yes.' My dad hated me for it. And so I bought it for her for Christmas. And I thought my dad was going to kill me. Because for the rest of time, she would press it any time they had an argument. And it would just drive them nuts.”

— Jon Cooper (NHL.com)

What’s next

The Lightning will have to adjust their coaching staff and strategy in Cooper's absence, and the team's performance in the upcoming games against the Maple Leafs and Hurricanes will be closely watched.

The takeaway

The loss of a parent is always a difficult time, and Cooper's absence from the Lightning bench highlights the human side of professional sports. The team and the league will need to provide support to Cooper and his family during this challenging period.