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Tampa Bay Lightning Add Stanley Cup Champion to Their Coaching Staff

Originally posted on House of Hockey | By Tom Banks | Last updated Jun 6, 2025 1:23 PM ET

Much of the Tampa Bay Lightning staff and team have won a Stanley Cup with the organization, and now, they've added more winning experience to their coaching staff.

In recent times, the Tampa Bay Lightning have been one of the NHL's most consistency and successful franchises, winning the Stanley Cup in 2020 and 2021 before losing to the Colorado Avalanche in the 2022 Stanley Cup Finals.

Since that point, they've failed to replicate that post-season success, being eliminated in the first round for the past three seasons to Toronto and Florida, and this off-season, that could lead to some change.

We already saw long-time captain and star Steven Stamkos leave in free agency last summer, and there could be more shock moves on the way this year, but for now, they've actually added a former Stanley Cup Champion.

On Friday, the Lightning announced that they have hired Dan Hinote, a Stanley Cup winner with the Avalanche back in 2001 in an assistant coach role as they look to get back to their winning ways when it matters most.

The Florida native retired from the NHL after the 2008/09 campaign, and has since gained plenty of experience in coaching, working with the Columbus Blue Jackets, Nashville Predators, U.S. Mens National Team Development Program and finally back with the Colorado Avalanche organization, as he served as the Colorado Eagles associate Head Coach a season ago.

Now, the 48-year old has come home to Florida to join the Lightning, and now that he gets to learn under Jon Cooper, it will give him invaluable experience as he looks to continue his rise as a coach in the NHL, with the potential goal of becoming a Head Coach in the league one day.

This article first appeared on House of Hockey and was syndicated with permission.

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