Jon Cooper Reveals How He Took Full Advantage Of Maple Leafs Media During Playoffs

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Dawson Mckenzie
October 21, 2023 (3:36 PM)

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Toronto media is notorious for being hyper-focused on the Leafs' every move and mistake, and Jon Cooper just revealed how he took advantage of that in previous years' playoff series.

Cooper Reveals Exactly How He Takes Advantage of Toronto Media

Jon Cooper is well known for the comments he makes after games, and was especially famous for making comments about officiating or the Leafs during the Lightning-Leafs series in past years.

Now, he has revealed that this was intentional to try and get a message across.

"Playoffs is a little bit different. You're playing against a team in a 7-game series and there's been times in my career where if I needed to get something through, I selectively do it through the media. It's definitely happened in the playoffs but not in the season."

A Recharged Tampa Bay Lighting Squad

The summer was long for Tampa, which is a first in a while for the team, as they have had several years with long playoff runs.

Many players and Cooper alike took advantage of the long summer to take vacations. Cooper went to Italy and Greece with his wife before returning to the rink.

When he did return, though, Cooper noted how he had never seen so many players back on the ice a month before training camp, citing a longer-than-desired summer as a catalyst for their renewed energy.

Mikhail Sergachev on how focused the Tampa Bay Lightning are heading into training camp

As seen on Maple Leafs Daily:
Lightning coach admits to using the media to influence playoff series against Leafs