My issue with Cooper is his player development. Not sure which player you can say is what they are because of Cooper. Let's start in net with Vasilevskey, kid was the 1st goalie picked his draft and a 1st rounder, who with his pedigree was expected to be this good. Bishop was a good goalie he just never was on a team that would give him the chance, I really don't credit Cooper with that it was more Yzerman realizing how bad we in that department and bringing in a guy who just needed a chance. So in net he hasn't done anything special.
On defense it's really bad too. Hedman was here and fairly established, maybe Cooper gets some credit for letting him play to his strenghts more. Sergachev was a high pick so expected to be good and we haven't even seen Cooper get the best out of him. Dotchin flashed for a second but is gone, Gudas the same and has been better away from here, Barberio he made an Eddie Shore winner in the A but did nothing with in the pros and is doing well somewhere else, Koekkoek hasn't developed and might not be around longer. We've had to make a few trades and FA signings because he couldn't develop anyone.
For forwards he finally has some success, success that imInot sure is all on him. Kucherov was considered a top 15 talent if he wasn't Russian, so maybe he gets half credit for that. Johnson was a WJC gold medal winner, Memorial Cup winner, big time scorer in the WHL, sure Cooper gave him a chance to succeed but Johnson even though undrafted was a big time player before Cooper, so half credit. Palat I'll give him credit for, even though those who watched the Q saw he was actually the better player between him and Coutorier their dratt year albeit he was older, Cooper did well with him in the A and made him a top 6 player. Killorn was pretty polished when he turned pro and he really hasn't improved from there, kinda the same player he has been from day 1, so no credit since he didn't make him any better. Gourde was developed prior to coming up last year, Cooper gave him more a chance than anything he didn't develop him to me. Point was a top talent but his size was the issue for his draft position, he stayed in junior developing, Cooper I guess you can say helped turn him into a top 6 center but he had a hell of a player to work with. He's also had guys like Connolly and Panik who were 1st and 2nd round talent do better away from him. Gallant turned Marchessault into a legit player while Cooper mismanaged him as a 3rd liner. He did turn Paquette into a good 4th liner so he's got that on his record. Just not impressed with his development as a whole which is a big issue.