Jon Cooper wins Jack Adams Award as NHL coach of the year

Tampa Bay Lightning head coach Jon Cooper has won the Jack Adams Award as the NHL’s coach of the year for the 2025-26 season. The award, voted on by the NHL Broadcasters Association, was announced by the team on Wednesday.

This marks the first time Cooper has received the honor in his 14-year tenure with the Lightning, making him the league’s longest-tenured coach. He was selected over fellow finalists Dan Muse of the Pittsburgh Penguins and Lindy Ruff of the Buffalo Sabres. Cooper led Tampa Bay to a 50-26-6 record this season, securing a second-place finish in the Atlantic Division and the team’s ninth consecutive playoff berth.

The award is given to the coach judged to have contributed the most to his team’s success. This season, Cooper guided the Lightning through significant injuries, including the loss of star defenseman Victor Hedman late in the year. Key performances from Nikita Kucherov, who recorded 130 points, and goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy, who posted 39 wins, were instrumental in the team’s success. The Lightning also ranked among the league’s most potent even-strength offenses.

Cooper’s career accomplishments are extensive. He has compiled a regular-season record...