Cooper dismisses notion that Bolts are afterthoughts: 'We're still relevant'

Jon Cooper acknowledged he uses the perception that the Tampa Bay Lightning's days as contenders are over as a motivational tool.

"When people think of us as afterthoughts, there is a little 'F you' in the guys to say: 'Whoa, whoa, whoa. We're still relevant,'" the Bolts head coach told The Athletic's Ian Mendes. "So, yes, for sure, it's useful."

The Lightning sit in third place in the Atlantic Division at 5-3-3 despite playing without goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy, their longtime fixture in the crease who was given a two-month recovery timetable in late September after undergoing back surgery.

"I've gone a season without (Steven) Stamkos. A season without Nikita Kucherov. We've gone long stretches without Brayden Point and Anthony Cirelli. And now we're playing without Vasy," Cooper said. "We build a team. They're massive parts of our team, but if we can't get along without them, then what are we?"

The Lightning made the Stanley Cup Final in three consecutive seasons, winning it all in 2020 and 2021 before losing in the championship round to the Colorado Avalanche in the following year. The Toronto Maple Leafs bounced Tampa Bay from the first round of the playoffs in six games last spring.

Cooper is the longest-tenured active NHL head coach, having begun his stint as Tampa Bay's bench boss in March 2013. He's never won the Jack Adams Award but has been a finalist twice.