Tampa Bay Lightning head coach Jon Cooper has added another crowning achievement to a storied NHL career.
Cooper was announced Wednesday as the 2026 recipient of the Jack Adams Award, granted each season to the NHL coach “adjudged to have contributed the most to his team’s success.” Voted on by members of the NHL Broadcasters’ Association, Cooper becomes just the second coach in franchise history to capture the honor, joining John Tortorella (2004).
This marked Cooper’s third time as a finalist for the award. Voters ultimately selected the veteran bench boss over fellow 2026 finalists Dan Muse (PIT) and Lindy Ruff (BUF).
The league’s longest-tenured head coach guided the Lightning to a ninth consecutive playoff berth in 2025-26. Tampa Bay navigated an injury-filled campaign to finish with a 50-26-6 record, securing 106 standings points to tie for fifth overall in the NHL. It marks the organization’s first 50-win season since 2021-22.
Under Cooper’s stewardship this year, the Lightning finished among the NHL’s elite, ranking near the top of the league in wins, goals scored, goals against, goal differential, road wins, regulation wins, and comeback wins, as well as penalty kill percentage.
The award puts a bow on a milestone-heavy season for the prospective Hall of Fame coach. Cooper coached his 1,000th career NHL game, all with Tampa Bay, on December 31, and quickly followed that up on January 12 by becoming the second-fastest coach in league history to reach 600 wins with a 5-1 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers.
Can’t speak to whether Muse should have won this award over Cooper, but I do know I like having him as our coach more than the Rangers like having Sully.
Ruff or better yet St. Louis should have this won over Cooper.
Weakest performance of the three finalists imo.
What? They finally gave him one because he hadn’t won the award yet? Because he didn’t win it on merit alone. Easily should have went to Ruff, St. Louis or Brind’Amour first.
If we’re being honest, he should have already won this award years ago.
Congratulations to Cooper, but honestly, this award seems like a jinx. Despite facing numerous injuries, with the roster ranking second in man lost games, and Tampa consistently ranking among the top five teams in the league based on metrics and statistics, the award feels more like recognition for his years of credible coaching rather than the team’s performance this season.
You know I’m fine with this being a career recognition award. Who knows how much impact a coach has over one season. There are so many different factors that contribute to a winning team. You can mitigate most of them over time. So why not recognize a coach (and GM) for 5 years of good results.
There are very few teams that wouldn’t have wanted Cooper as their head coach over the last 5 years.
I’m no fan of the Penguins, but Carbery winning last year and Muse not this year seems odd. Caps roster was much better then Penguins’.
He did a much better job with his star-studded and team was was expected to win than Tocchet in Philly or Ruff in Buffalo… 🤦🏻♂️
In a year where Braden point battle significant injury wasn’t his best, and the team was without their captain for extended periods of time, I think this award is appropriate. I was honestly shocked that he hadn’t already won the award yet.
The other finalist also had very strong cases. They’re certainly no denying that, and even some that weren’t in the top three overall definitely deserved concentration.
Congratulations to all.
I honestly dont understand how Ruff didnt win this one in a landslide.
Dan Muse was ROBBED!!!
Cooper and ruff had far superior rosters compared to what muse has yet he coached the pens back to the playoffs again