The Canadian may be drawn into the backyard of others to find a next GM, and Jon Cooper believes there may already be a prime candidate in the backyard of the Lightning.
As we know, at the Bell Center, the CH chair remains empty, but it will be occupied in the near future, and there is certainly a prime candidate in Tampa Bay: Mathieu Darche.
“I can not comment on a decision that will not be mine, explained the coach of the Lightning Tuesday at noon at the Bell Center. He’s not been with us for that long, but Mathieu has been fantastic. Julien (BriseBois, the Lightning GM) hasn’t been in the league for as long as a guy like Lou Lamoriello, for example, but I’ve been with him for 10 years and I see everything he does, his preparation. , his work ethic. This is something that is spreading within our organization, and it results in a culture to which Mathieu is a part. ”
The two-time defending Lightning now have a place among the top organizations in the National Hockey League, and in this situation, it’s normal for the rivals to try a little to get their hands dirty.
Jon Cooper is aware of this.
“It’s a reality and all the teams have to go through it,” he said. Whether you lose a guy, anyone, whether it’s the equipment guy, an assistant, an assistant GM, you feel. I believe that there is a synergy with our training. We would like to be able to keep everyone, but everyone has goals. One day being the GM of the Montreal Canadiens, I don’t know, but that must be at the top of the list for a lot of people… ”
Moreover, it is quite astonishing to see how the two clubs which will meet Tuesday night at the Bell Center have very different backgrounds in 2021-22.
As the Lightning comes in seventh overall in the league, the Canadian comes … at 31e rank. These are the same two teams that were face to face in the last big final, obviously won by the club from Florida.
Recall that after the Cup, training in the lightning lost its third line, two defenders and also Tyler Johnson. But it does not seem too much.
So what’s the secret?
“New arrivals have to take baby steps,” Cooper replied. They have to show up here and be well prepared, with good working habits, and you can teach them a lot of things afterwards … You have to take it slowly. The young people who arrive must build their confidence, without going overboard. We made these changes, and it worked out well for us. ”