Sam Hitchcock: What Happens to Cooper If TB Loses

The coach can only play with the cards he is dealt (which, on the surface, is a *great* draw).

Also, I think you may be *seriously* underestimating the role of luck in this sport.

One of the things that makes Kucherov so great is his ability to execute plays like that. Yes, sometimes the puck is going to go the other way, but that's part of having a high risk / higher reward player. You can't expect a Ferrari to be a tractor.

nothing, because no coach will be judged by this playoff tournament

Gallant would be a pretty radical change...

nothing, because no coach will be judged by this playoff tournament

Agreed. Everything about this year is going to have an asterisk next to it.

Nothing because 2020 is a write off however you want to slice it! Everything about this year has an asterisk to it! There will be a few mulligans in sports after this year!

If TB fails, and Coop is the fall guy and let go.....Stevie Y will happily offer him a 5 yr contract for $4-5M in Hockeytown. This is what Stevie is waiting for to see what happens in Tampa.

If their out in the early rounds..then he will be drinking brown pops with Babs. If its in later rounds then he will probably be safe until mid season.

The coach can only play with the cards he is dealt (which, on the surface, is a *great* draw).

Also, I think you may be *seriously* underestimating the role of luck in this sport.
- farooge

This. Caps are a post away from still being a playoff bust.

Leafs have had horrible luck.

There are 30 other teams in the league that would love to have Cooper. He will stay even if they lose. Don't forget Hedman, Stralman, Point, and Stamkos were all playing hurt during that series.

As good as the Lightening are there is still variance in the play offs. Players playing injured etc.

Cooper has done such a great job I would caution against being impatient.

Beurube was great last year bc the goaltending fell apart early it took down the system by causing players to do too much. That broke down trust and Yeo was too insecure bc of his time with the Wild. All Beurube did was remind the plsyers they were good and they got a good young goalie who got out of his head and played not only great but with calm. The system righted itself, trust was reinstilled and bourne out of that was a higher belief in their ability to trust each other and over come the fickle bounces like an uncalled hand pass resulting in an OT winner. Perhaps some injuries to Boston players helped as well.