Lightning Rumors: 3 Biggest Questions Facing Tampa Bay

Monday, May 05, 2025
Tampa Bay Lightning head coach Jon Cooper looks on during 2025 game.

After another early playoff exit, the Tampa Bay Lightning face an offseason loaded with tough decisions and uncertainty. 

As Eduardo A. Encina of the Tampa Bay Times reported, GM Julien BriseBois addressed several burning topics during his end-of-season press conference—most notably the future of head coach Jon Cooper, the fate of several unrestricted free agents, and the likelihood that top prospect Isaac Howard never plays a game in Tampa.

Cooper Staying Put, Despite Rumors

One headline-grabber: Jon Cooper isn’t going anywhere. Rumors linking the longtime Lightning bench boss to the new Utah Hockey Club—owned by his close friend Ryan Smith—were shut down quickly by BriseBois. “He will be back because, A, he’s an outstanding coach. Two, more importantly, he’s the best coach for this job,” said BriseBois, adding he expects Cooper to remain in Tampa well beyond the length of his current deal.

Cooper echoed that sentiment, saying Tampa is “the only city [his kids] really remember” and praising the organization's top-to-bottom professionalism. His return gives the Lightning stability behind the bench, but questions still swirl about whether the current group can reclaim its championship form after three straight first-round exits.

Not Everyone’s Coming Back

BriseBois admitted it’s unlikely the Lightning will retain all of their pending UFAs, a list that includes Yanni Gourde, Luke Glendening, Cam Atkinson, Jonas Johansson, and Nick Perbix. “Odds of them all coming back are small,” he said, citing players' desires for bigger roles elsewhere. With limited cap space and key veterans like Ryan McDonagh entering the final year of their contracts, the Lightning are heading into a summer of retooling rather than a full rebuild.

There’s mutual interest in keeping parts of the group intact—especially McDonagh, who led the NHL with a plus-43 rating and expressed a desire to retire in Tampa—but hard decisions are on the horizon.

Isaac Howard Likely to Bolt

Perhaps the most surprising development? BriseBois admitted it’s “unlikely” that top college prospect Isaac Howard will sign with the team. The 2025 Hobey Baker winner and Michigan State standout reportedly didn’t see “eye to eye” with the organization, and despite regular communication, BriseBois now believes Howard prefers to explore other options.

With Tampa holding Howard’s rights until August 2026, a trade is possible—especially around the NHL Draft, when his value might be highest. If he walks as a free agent, the Lightning would receive a compensatory second-round pick in 2027, but the situation represents a disappointing turn for a former first-round pick once pegged as a future star.

From Cooper’s long-term future to roster turnover and Howard’s likely exit, Tampa Bay’s offseason will be anything but quiet.

Photo Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images

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