Jon Cooper, The Next Toronto Maple Leafs Head Coach?

An interesting development could lead John Cooper to become the new Head Coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs if things don't work out for Sheldon Keefe.

Situation Could Present Itself For John Cooper to Move on From the Lightning to Toronto

This entire hypothetical, while not impossible, is highly unlikely to work out in the middle of the season, or even at all. However, the way things are shaking out in the NHL standings makes this more likely each day. T

The whole hypothetical would be contingent on the Lightning firing John Cooper, two-time Stanley Cup champ and longtime coach, and the Leafs both wanting and being confident enough to land him to fire Keefe.


It sounds far-fetched, but just take a second to think about it. The Tampa Bay Lightning are falling out of their dynasty era, and are sitting at 10-10-5, outside of a playoff position. Cooper's success has run its course in Tampa, and if the team is entering a rebuild, they likely want to do so with a new coach.

If Cooper Becomes Available His First Call Should be From the Leafs

Sheldon Keefe has done a good job with the Leafs during his time in Toronto, leading them out of the first round for the first time in 20 years last season. However, that has been it, and he may have hit his ceiling with the club. After so many years, the message doesn't resonate the same way it used to. Some fans think that his time is up, as well.





If the Leafs could land Cooper, it could be the last piece of the puzzle they need to take them over the hump and to the Stanley Cup championship.

As seen on Maple Leafs Daily - "Some are calling for Sheldon Keefe's job; here's one scenario in which it makes sense to fire him"