Jon Cooper, the longest-tenured HC in the NHL, has been at the helm of the Lightning since 2013, guiding them to 2 Stanley Cup wins and 4 Finals appearances. But after 3 straight seasons without a playoff series win - including a second consecutive first-round exit in 5 games to the Panthers - fans and analysts are starting to wonder if the magic is fading

Jon Cooper has been a fixture behind the Tampa Bay Lightning bench since 2013, making him the longest-tenured head coach in the NHL. Under his leadership, the Lightning have enjoyed a golden era: two Stanley Cup championships, four Finals appearances, and consistent playoff contention. Yet, as the 2025 season unfolds with a rocky start and back-to-back first-round playoff exits in recent years, questions are mounting. Has Cooper’s tactical brilliance lost its edge? Has the team grown stale under his prolonged leadership?

Cooper’s coaching philosophy has long emphasized speed, puck possession, and structured defensive play. His systems helped transform Tampa Bay into one of the most dominant teams of the 2010s and early 2020s. However, the NHL is a constantly evolving league. Opponents adapt, younger teams emerge with fresh strategies, and what once worked flawlessly can become predictable.

Reinventing Strategy or Changing Leadership?

One of Jon Cooper’s biggest challenges isn’t just tactical effectiveness—it’s his ability to adapt to a new generation of players. Today’s NHL is no longer a league of fixed systems. The most successful teams are those that can be flexible, adjusting strategies based on opponents and circumstances. Cooper, though he once proved his adaptability after the shocking 2019 playoff sweep, now seems slower to update his approach to match the speed and technical demands of the modern game.

Psychological factors also play a major role. After more than a decade with the same team, the relationship between coach and players can become overly familiar. That familiarity may lead to a lack of motivation or reduced effectiveness in communicating tactical messages. Younger players might need a different leadership style—someone who can inspire in a fresh, more dynamic way.

That said, Cooper remains one of the sharpest tactical minds in the NHL. The fact that he hasn’t been dismissed shows that the Lightning’s front office still believes in his ability to turn things around. Perhaps they’re waiting for a positive shift in the second half of the season—or at least a sign that Cooper can reinvent himself and reenergize the team.

If no clear improvement emerges, a coaching change may become a realistic option. Not because Cooper isn’t talented, but because the team may need a new voice to reignite its competitive spirit. In professional sports, change is sometimes necessary to break cycles of stagnation and create fresh momentum.

Ultimately, Jon Cooper stands at a critical crossroads in his coaching career. He can choose to reinvent his tactics, refresh his leadership style, and prove he’s still the right person to guide the Lightning. Or, the organization may decide it’s time to move on and seek a new future. Whatever the outcome, Cooper’s legacy in Tampa Bay is secure—as one of the most successful eras in franchise history.

Patriots QB Drake Maye’s Top-10 Status Divides Fans After Strong Buffalo Win

Patriots fans share their thoughts on the team heading into Week 6.

Drake Maye has the New England Patriots and their fans feeling good. Coming off a 23-20 upset win over the previously unbeaten Buffalo Bills, the team and its second-year quarterback are trending in the right direction.

Where their journey goes remains to be seen, but in Maye’s case he seems to have arrived among the better QBs in football. In fact, the latest results of our 

SB Nation Reacts survey show that 74% of Patriots fans already view him as a top-10 player at his position.

Interestingly enough, the comment section was a bit more cautious slapping that label onto him just yet.

WelshPatriot.
No he isn’t a top ten QB. It’s too sensationalist to say that at this time. Top 16 to 20 yes. He played very well in the Buffalo game but he did miss opportunities. Maybe next season or perhaps sooner if he can stay consistent.

CooBear
I think so. But again, who are the qbs that would be ahead of him, like actually ahead of him. Not guys who have better records but aren’t as good at the position.

Dan Lattrell
No. To be top ten you have to play well over a period of time against different opponents. Maye was definitely not top ten last season. If he can continue to string together good games then he may eventually become a top QB in the NFL.

GhostofDynastiesPast
Currently Maye is ‘top 10’ but we’ll need to see where he’s at by the end of the season.

TDDsDad
According to the numbers he is, so I answered yes (because there wasn’t a “no, but get back to me after Thanksgiving” choice).

I think the potential is there. If he continues on this trajectory then yes, by year’s end he will be a top 10 QB.

ShaynaandDanny
I’m a big Maye fan, but Not yet. I need to see a few more games of steady progress like he has shown, then I’ll swap that out to a yes.

sanfranpatsfan
top 10 in some stats right now but there are some QBs currently better than him that aren’t ahead of him because of injury eg Burrow
prob 10-15 though and ascending

Sweaty-Man-Boobs
He is most definitely an ascending QB. If he can prove that he can play at this level on a consistent basis, then he is a top 10 QB. I like the direction that he is heading in and I feel better and better each week that the Patriots drafted him.

luckyfukikentucky
I would say bottom of the top ten. He’s getting better, so long as he continues to protect the ball, the O-line stays healthy he will progressively get better at reading defenses and making better decisions. After all he’s able to make the throws already has the arm strength and placement which should get even better. But if you asked pretty much anybody when we drafted him, would we be happy if he was this good after 17 games? The answer is an absolute yes.

Summit9
No - he’s somewhere between 11 and 13.

All in all, this week’s survey results look as follows:

The Patriots fans are not just happy with their quarterback, but the team as a whole. The latest confidence survey after that aforementioned win over Buffalo shows that 98% of participants feel the club is headed in the right direction, and it seems there is no slowing down coming either.

A whopping 63% of fans, after all, expect the Patriots to win Sunday’s game against the New Orleans Saints by more than one score. All but 5% overall think New England will leave New Orleans with a victory, optimism shared by a nationwide audience as well.

Whether their quarterback is a top-10 player or not, one thing seems certain: the Patriots have started making some noise, and getting some love.

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