Lightning Coach Jon Cooper to Miss 2 Games After Father's Death

Assistant Rob Zettler to serve as acting head coach during Cooper's absence.

Published on Feb. 26, 2026

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Tampa Bay Lightning head coach Jon Cooper will miss the next two games after the death of his father, Robert. Assistant coach Rob Zettler will serve as the acting head coach for the Lightning's home game against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Wednesday and their away game against the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday.

Why it matters

Cooper is a highly respected NHL coach who led the Lightning to Stanley Cup championships in 2020 and 2021. His absence due to a personal tragedy will be felt by the team and the community, but the Lightning have shown resilience this season and are currently leading their division.

The details

Cooper, who was also the head coach for the Canadian men's hockey team at the recent Winter Olympics in Milan, left Tampa to return to Vancouver following his father's passing. Zettler, an experienced assistant coach, will take over the head coaching duties for the next two games as the Lightning look to maintain their strong position in the standings.

  • On Wednesday, February 26, 2026, Zettler will serve as the acting head coach for the Lightning's home game against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
  • On Thursday, February 27, 2026, Zettler will again serve as the acting head coach for the Lightning's away game against the Carolina Hurricanes.

The players

Jon Cooper

The head coach of the Tampa Bay Lightning, who has led the team to two Stanley Cup championships in 2020 and 2021. He is currently away from the team following the death of his father, Robert.

Rob Zettler

The assistant coach of the Tampa Bay Lightning, who will serve as the acting head coach in Jon Cooper's absence.

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What they’re saying

“Thoughts and prayers, as always, to Coop and his family. That was the No. 1 thing, that he takes care of business back home. He left this morning to go back to Vancouver. What I am in confident in is our guys. They've been excellent in so many ways this year, including in times like this where's Coop's missing or something happens to one of the guys.”

— Rob Zettler, Assistant Coach, Tampa Bay Lightning (local10.com)

What’s next

The Lightning will continue their season without head coach Jon Cooper, who is expected to return after attending to personal matters following his father's passing. Assistant coach Rob Zettler will lead the team in Cooper's absence.

The takeaway

The resilience and professionalism of the Tampa Bay Lightning organization is on display as they navigate the absence of their head coach during a difficult personal time. The team's strong performance this season and the leadership of assistant coach Rob Zettler will be crucial in maintaining their position atop the standings while Cooper attends to his family.