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Detroit Red Wings: Is Jon Cooper The Coaching Answer?

By Tyler Kotila

UNIONDALE, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 01: Head coach Jon Cooper of the Tampa Bay Lightning (R) handles the bench during the game against the New York Islanders at NYCB Live's Nassau Coliseum on November 01, 2019 in Uniondale, New York. The Islanders defeated the Lightning 5-2. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
UNIONDALE, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 01: Head coach Jon Cooper of the Tampa Bay Lightning (R) handles the bench during the game against the New York Islanders at NYCB Live's Nassau Coliseum on November 01, 2019 in Uniondale, New York. The Islanders defeated the Lightning 5-2. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /
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There have been some rumors that the Tampa Bay Lightning may part ways with coach Jon Cooper and he could be the much-needed coaching change for the Detroit Red Wings.

The Detroit Red Wings are terrible; they are dead last at an astounding 9-22-3 on the season. While the Red Wings are rotting at the bottom of the league, the Tampa Bay Lightning are 16-12-3 on the season, trying to squeak into a wildcard spot. There have been rumors that Jon Cooper may be on the hot seat after a less than ideal start to the season.

It’s no secret that Cooper has been a phenomenal coach for the Lightning, taking them to the playoffs five times in the eight seasons he has been the bench boss. He is still under contract through the 2021-22 season, but rumors have pointed to the idea that the Lightning may part ways with him.

Since Steve Yzerman took over the Red Wings in April of 2019, fans have seen the implementation of Yzerman’s staff, implementation of the “Yzer-plan.”

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It would be ludicrous of Yzerman does not at least explore the idea of bringing in Jon Cooper to coach the Red Wings after he had success with the Lightning during his tenure there. It is a pre-mature idea since he has not been fired, but Yzerman should check in with his former bench boss and see if there’s something there.

Jeff Blashill has been at the helm of the Red Wings bench for the past five seasons, making the playoffs in his first year with it only getting worse from there. The Red Wings have been struggling since Blashill coached a lot of the young talent when they were with the Grand Rapids Griffins, so he was able to convert some of the development skills into the NHL, but he has not been great.

It sure seems like a coaching change should be necessary when Blashill refuses to play Filip Zadina higher than a bottom-six forward, consistently starts Darren Helm or Justin Abdelkader in the top-six, or simply struggles to keep the group morale high.

Face the facts, the Red Wings go down a goal or two, and the team’s morale struggles to climb out of the dump, and Blashill has not been the best at keeping the guys fresh and keeping them in the game.

Amazingly enough, Blashill did manage to outlast Mike Babcock, who left the Red Wings and was fired by the Toronto Maple Leafs recently in the wake of some coaching issues that have since been rumored. If the rumors are correct about the Lightning and Cooper, then Yzerman needs to get the Yzer-plan in motion again and scoop up his guy.

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Only time will tell, this is a pre-mature idea, but as a fan, I hope that Yzerman brings Cooper to the organization if he is indeed fired.

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