Overview
- Team communications announced Cooper will be away for Wednesday’s game vs. Toronto and Thursday’s game at Carolina after the death of his father, Robert.
- Rob Zettler ran the bench against the Maple Leafs and is set to coach again Thursday, with Cooper having traveled to Vancouver, according to the Associated Press.
- Multiple outlets report Cooper is expected to be back Saturday against Buffalo, though the team has not formally confirmed his return date.
- Cooper led Team Canada to a silver medal at the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympics after a 2-1 overtime loss to the United States in the gold-medal game.
- Tampa Bay entered the post-Olympic restart atop the Atlantic Division and tied with Carolina for the most points in the Eastern Conference after a 19-1-1 run before the break.