NHL Thread Because There Isn't An NHL Thread

Hollywood said:
The Tampa Bay Lightning have rewarded head coach Jon Cooper with a three-year contract extension through the 2024-25 season, the team announced Monday.

"Unequivocally, Coop is the best person for the job," general manager Julien BriseBois said. "He is a great leader, spokesperson, and ambassador for our organization. We are lucky to have him as our head coach, and I very much look forward to our continued partnership."

Cooper is the longest-tenured head coach in the league, as he's been at the helm since the 2012-13 campaign. He's led the team to two division titles, three Stanley Cup Final appearances, and two championships.


"It has been a tremendous honor to be the head coach of the Tampa Bay Lightning for the past eight-plus seasons and I'm looking forward to having the opportunity to build on what we have here," Cooper said. "My family and I love the organization and being a part of the Tampa Bay community, it is our home."

Prior to his promotion to the Lightning, Cooper served as the head coach of the organization's AHL squad, the Syracuse Crunch (and previously the Norfolk Admirals). He guided the Admirals to a Calder Cup title in 2011-12.

Cooper's reputation in league circles is sterling, as the Prince George, British Columbia, native was named the head coach of Canada's men's team for the 2022 Olympics.
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The Chicago Blackhawks are bringing back a familiar face, signing defenseman Erik Gustafsson to a one-year, $800,000 contract on Monday.

Gustafsson spent parts of four seasons with the Blackhawks until they traded him as a rental to the Calgary Flames at the 2020 deadline. He put together a career-best 17-goal, 60-point campaign in 2018-19 while quarterbacking Chicago's top power-play unit.

The 29-year-old hasn't been able to uncover that same offensive spark since then. He recorded 29 points in 66 games in 2019-20 before tallying just one goal and 11 assists in 29 contests last season while playing limited minutes with the Philadelphia Flyers and Montreal Canadiens.


Gustafsson suited up in 16 games during Montreal's run to the Stanley Cup Final this past spring, registering a goal and two assists while averaging 10 minutes per contest.

He spent this preseason on a professional tryout with the New York Islanders but didn't make the team.

The Blackhawks were in need of depth on the left side of their blue line after offseason acquisition Caleb Jones suffered a left wrist strain, which is expected to sideline him for six weeks.
 
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