Lightning head coach Jon Cooper apologizes for comments about goalies in 'skirts'

Tampa Bay Lightning head coach Jon Cooper opened his end-of-season news conference Wednesday apologizing for making what he called an inappropriate analogy of putting skirts on goalies.

Cooper after the Game 5 loss that eliminated his team from the playoffs on Monday night vented about two questionable goaltender interference rulings that contributed to Florida's 6-1 win.

The Lightning had two goals disallowed when the NHL situation room deemed a player interfered with Sergei Bobrovsky each time.

The league's longest-tenured coach said he was sincerely sorry especially as a father of two daughters who play sports and a supporter of women's hockey.

"It's one of those minutes if you could just reach back and grab the words back, I would've," Cooper said. "Quite frankly, it was wrong and I've got to go and explain myself to my girls. ... I sincerely apologize to all I offended. It's pained me more than the actual series loss itself."

Tampa Bay has made the playoffs in 10 of his 11 seasons on the job and won the Stanley Cup back to back in 2020 and '21.

Stamkos covets return to Tampa

Steven Stamkos has spent all 16 of his NHL seasons with the Lightning and he's highly interested in continuing the relationship.

Stamkos, 34, is slated to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1. But he said he had a preliminary conversation with general manager Julien BriseBois after Tampa Bay was eliminated from the post-season Monday night.

"I had a short conversation with [BriseBois] after [Game 5]. He reached out to my agent," Stamkos said while cleaning out his locker on Wednesday. "That's all that we have right now, but for sure, hopefully, there's some discussions and you have to start somewhere, so I'm looking forward to that."

Less than 48 hours after the setback, Stamkos detailed his decision process.

"At the end of the day, winning is still what fuels me," Stamkos said. "Being a big part of that culture fuels me. Obviously, certain things have changed now; I have an amazing young family that has put roots down in this city and really enjoy living here and playing here. From that perspective, the decision is more than just me now, and that's something that is amazing for me to have that and be in that situation.

"There's different factors than there were last time, but nothing's really changed in terms of my mindset and where I wanted to be and play, and that was here. So, that certainly hasn't changed."

The last time, Stamkos signed an eight-year, $68-million US deal in June 2016.

Since then, the Lightning have won two Stanley Cup championship (2020, 2021) and Stamkos has produced three 40-goal seasons to raise his career count to seven.

Overall, the seven-time all-star forward has 555 goals and 1,137 points in 1,082 regular-season games. His accomplishments include being a two-time Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy winner for leading the NHL in goals scored.

The Lightning's captain since March 2014, Stamkos continues to impress BriseBois.

"You all saw how from the trade deadline on 'Stammer' elevated his level of play, which was incredible to see," BriseBois said. "For someone who you can say has already earned his Hall of Fame plaque, has accomplished so much already, and has accomplished so much for so long, for him to play arguably his best two months of hockey of his career ... for him to do that at the time when our team needed it most was incredible."

BriseBois also said he would like to sign defenceman Victor Hedman to a new contract. The 33-year-old is entering the final season of a eight-year, $63 million deal.

Hedman had 13 goals and 76 points in 78 contests this season, his 15th with the Lightning.