Jon Cooper on the Leafs and Panthers falling to the bottom of the Atlantic Division: "The Leafs don't have the fruits of their labour the way Florida does, so it's probably tougher to swallow"

"Going to three straight finals is trying. It is tough. We were fortunate to continue to make the playoffs. They had some massive injuries. They've made a run; let's be honest, their run has been pretty special. Sometimes the stars align for you, and sometimes, they don't. They didn't align for them this year."

"We've got a great core. We have the centermen, the D, and the goalie. But there has been a little infusion of young guys who have come in. D'Astous has come in and provided some big minutes when guys got hurt. These guys came in and really helped us win."

"A lot of credit has to go to Julien and his staff for finding some of these younger players who have not only given us a bump but can play. They're all eager to play. That's helped."

Jon Cooper reflects on the Atlantic Division's shifting landscape, noting the Panthers and Leafs' unexpected struggles despite recent success. The Panthers' three consecutive Stanley Cup Finals appearances created fatigue, while injuries and misaligned circumstances affected their performance. The Leafs face similar challenges with roster changes impacting results. Cooper emphasizes the Lightning's sustained success stems from maintaining a strong core of centermen, defensemen, and goaltending while integrating young talent. Players like D'Astous, Carlile, Crozier, Lilleberg, Goncalves, and Dominic James provided crucial contributions during injuries. Cooper credits coach Julien and his staff for identifying and developing these younger players who bring both capability and eagerness to compete.

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