If the Tampa Bay Lightning do not make the NHL postseason following the 2013 season, could Lightning head coach Guy Boucher be on the hot seat?  TSN and ESPN.com’s senior NHL insider Pierre LeBrun tells 620 WDAE The Sports Page on Wednesday that Boucher will be evaluated if that is the case.

“I think Steve Yzerman is a patient person, I don’t think he is a guy who is going to make any rash decisions” said LeBrun.  “But if you’re asking me if there is a decision there after the season, yeah I think that’s a possibility.”

The Lightning were a goal away from the Stanley Cup Finals following the 2010-2011 season, but missing the playoffs last season and fading hopes in a lockout shortened season have raised rumors about Boucher’s future with the Bolts.  While LeBrun says Boucher is a terrific coach, he believes that Norfolk Admirals head coach Jon Cooper could be the deciding factor in any decision involving Boucher.

“Jon was a runner up for jobs in Edmonton and Washington last year, so he almost left as it was last year as it was” said LeBrun.  “The decision for Yzerman eventually will be do I still believe in Guy Boucher because I could lose Jon Cooper here soon.”

Cooper took over the Admirals in August of 2010 and has a 119-70-13-9 record at the helm, including setting franchise records in 2011-12 with 55 wins and 113 standings points.

On April 9, 2012, Cooper was named the winner of the Louis A.R. Pieri Memorial Award as the AHL’s outstanding coach, as voted by coaches and members of the media in each of the league’s 30 cities.