Lemaire coaches final game in 6-3 Minnesota win; Gaborik saying he’s leaning toward testing free agency
Posted on April 11th, 2009 – 9:03 PMBy Michael Russo
If you want to see Columbus coach Ken Hitchcock’s really nice words and praise for Jacques Lemaire, click this link, go to Hitchcock’s press conference last night and it starts about 2:15 into it.
I’ve covered a lot of coaching changes in my sportswriting career (OK, none here), but when I grabbed Jacques Lemaire by the shoulder and pulled him aside after his press scrum tonight to talk alone with me and the beat writer across the river, I still was a bit stunned to hear him say what I knew he was going to say.
Just to hear him actually say the words that he was done as the Wild coach was hard to grasp.
I just want to fast forward 20 minutes before I continue, but when I was hustling back up to the press box, outside of the Columbus locker room standing against the wall was Lemaire. He was all alone. He was throwing what I think was a ball against the opposite wall and catching it. And he just looked kind of sad as it hit him that this was really the end to the Jacques Lemaire era in Minnesota.
Lemaire loved coaching the Wild. He loves coaching … period, and that’s why he made this crystal clear that he is not retiring.
He still wants to coach, or work in the game in another capacity, but he re-iterated over and over that he loves to coach.
I have come full-circle on this, but a few weeks ago, I thought all the speculation that he’d be interested in the Montreal job was just crazy. I really believe he’d take it if offered now. And talk about a media circus. If he thought I was annoying, how about me times 50, and in French and English!
Lemaire said he wouldn’t talk about specific teams, but he’ll be looking. Lemaire, if he’s going to coach, must work with somebody he’s had a relationship with. Bob Gainey, he’s got a relationship with. And something else just dawned on me. If its true Serge Savard might buy the Habs, there’s a friendship between he and Lemaire.
“I think it’s time for the players to get a new coach and myself look at other stuff,” Lemaire said.
Will you coach elsewhere? “I’ll see. It’s exciting. It’s an exciting job. I was behind the bench there just before the game there, and I felt I was getting really tight because it’s something I’ve done for 15 years and I like it and I have to go.”
“Have to go.” He later added “I had to make [this decision] for certain reasons.”
Lemaire wouldn’t clarify, but, and this is conjecture, I think he was told, “It’s time, Jacques, for a change. Think about it.” Especially since he told us he won’t be working for the Wild, and the way he said it, and he threw a few other subtle hints at us tonight. Also, the way this went down. Lemaire, much, much, much, much to the team’s chagrin, got this out the way he wanted it out - with radio before the game and the beat writers after the game - rather than the way the front office wanted it released Monday. There were some very frustrated front office and staffers during the game.
As I’ve mentioned countless times, perception’s reality, and there’s got to be a reason the Wild can’t reel in the big fish. I don’t think it’s fair sometimes. There are a lot of defensive coaches in the league. Lots of old-school coaches. But if Lemaire’s the reason, it needed to change.
Lemaire looked like a man ready to go the last few weeks. He went into a number of unsolicited rants with the writers and he rarely went on the ice on game mornings. And there’s been clear tension between he and the team in the past couple weeks (more on that in a sec).
Now, before I continue, if you’re one of the people out there that thinks Jacques leaving gets Marian Gaborik to re-sign, you’re wrong. Gaborik said it changes nothing and he said after the game that he knows he’s a free agent and he’s waited this long and it would be cool to hear from 29 other teams.
So Gaborik, although he added he’d listen to the Wild if it comes to him (so did Brian Rolston, by the way, and he left after rejecting offers), might have played his final game in Minnesota. He scored two goals and an assist and was plus-3. He had an impressive 10 goals and 18 points in 11 games since returning. In fact, every unrestricted free agent except Stephane Veilleux (so Foster, Bergeron, Skoula and Gaborik twice) scored tonight.
As I wrote tomorrow, there’s been a lot of tension. People ask me all the time why I rarely take road trips off but do take home practices off. On the road, you’re around the team, the players aren’t in a rush to get home to their lives, so you get an idea of what’s really going on inside the room.
Players have been getting frustrated with Lemaire. They’ve been talking back to him. There was an incident during practice Thursday when one player cursed at him. There’s been a big rift between he and James Sheppard, one Doug Risebrough had to get involved with. Players have been furious with the few days off.
Lemaire did not deny this stuff, especially the problems with Sheppard, saying none of this stuff is abnormal. But I think Lemaire just started to realize it was indeed time. This was a team damaged bigtime by injuries, but he still had trouble getting the team to play the way he wants. Jacques Lemaire teams play it tight. The Wild, in December and March, were routinely down by two or three goals. That killed him.
And Lemaire did not tell the players after the game he was done. The beat writers did, which says a lot.
So what now?
Doug Risebrough wanted to give Lemaire his time with the beat writers and said he’d talk at a news conference scheduled for Monday at 10:30 a.m.
Obviously, Risebrough’s known for some time Lemaire was stepping down, so he’s got to have an idea of a list.
There’s Guy Carbonneau. There’s Tom Renney. There’s Peter Laviolette. And there’s Kevin Constantine.
But maybe Risebrough should wait and see who else becomes available, like maybe Lindy Ruff or Craig MacTavish. There are also solid assistants, like Todd Richards in San Jose or John Torchetti in Chicago.
I’ve got to say, I thoroughly enjoyed covering Lemaire. Just a great coach, and a genuinely good guy.
Lastly, here’s some stuff that might have gotten squeezed out of paper:
Assistant GM Tom Lynn said that Wild forward Dan Fritsche sustained a dislocated clavicle when he was hit by Nashville’s Jordin Tootoo on Friday night. It was put back in place and “he will be fine after a period of recovery.”
Of the Wild’s other unidentified injuries, Derek Boogaard had a shoulder injury and Nick Schultz has concussion-like symptoms.
Stephane Veilleux, 27, a third-round pick in 2001, was nervous Saturday was his 361st and last game in a Wild uniform.
“My best wish is to stay here,” Veilleux said. “I have close to 400 games in the same organization. I’m proud of what I’ve accomplished here. I gave my 100 percent to this organization. But I know this could be it.”
Veilleux said he received a reality check last summer when he was negotiating his own contract with the Wild. To show Veilleux he wasn’t as valuable as he thought, the Wild placed him on waivers. There were no takers, although that was deceiving because any team that took him would have had to go to a last-second arbitration hearing with him.
“It’s a crazy business,” Veilleux said. “It was proved to me last year when I was put on waivers. You think you’re out there and a guy the organization trusts and likes, and the next day, they’re saying you’re a replaceable player. It makes you realize you might be replaceable at any time.
“My best wish is to stay here, but maybe they just want to get new players.”
Marc-Andre Bergeron, 28, had similar anxiety, and he finished only his first season in Minnesota. He scored 14 goals, the second most by a defenseman in Wild history, yet he doesn’t know what will happen this summer.
“I’ve shown some offense over my last contract,” said Bergeron, who’s scored 61 goals in the past five years. “I just hope I showed something decent and I get a chance to keep playing in the NHL. I’d like something to work out here because it’s nerve-racking.”
The Wild wanted more days off. Guess what? They’ve got one Sunday. I don’t. Lots of writing ahead, and I’ll be on Rosen’s Sports Sunday on Ch. 4 Sunday night.
240 Responses to "Lemaire coaches final game in 6-3 Minnesota win; Gaborik saying he’s leaning toward testing free agency"
wow…thanks Jacques. For everything.
Falness & the boys were right.
I’m scared as hell for next season. Can we trust DR to get this right?
Jacques, this team, and this state will miss you. Thanks for the memories.
Goodbye and good luck Jacques, thanks for everything
Nick, you’re finest scotch for a toast?
My thanks to Jacques for everything he has done for this franchise and best wishes for his future endeavors.
[…] is breaking right now, but he did not close the door on coaching […]
Asking Lemaire to step aside? That’s harsh.
Jacques gave this franchise credibility from the beginning. He will be missed.
Fire Risebrough!!!
Mister Know it all is right again… But now what / who is the next coach ?
Sunshine- what do you mean they asked him to step aside ?
Thanks Jacques…You were a good coach, thanks for the past years.
Where’s Lou Nanne? How about Mike Modano.. not!
MKIA:
Russo saying he’s writing an article saying Lemaire should step aside. That’s what is harsh — not Wild management asking him to step down.
Thanks JR, but it’s time for a change. It will be weird not seeing him behind the bench though. The Aeros coach Constantine is the obvious choice IMO. I don’t want a retread like all the other teams seem to do.
Jaromir Blogger to Woodcock on prior post re: the trap.
S-N-A-P
Either fire Risebrough, or do what Taylor did to McHale. Make him coach that group.
Jacques what the only thing holding this poorly assembled group of players. I’m afraid to see what will happen next year even if DR goes. DR has set this franchise back at least 4 years. That’s says alot in the free agent era.
Are they commenting on Lemaire’s resignation on HNIC? Anybody know?
The Aeros coach Constantine is the obvious choice IMO. I don’t want a retread
Yeah, because a guy who has coached three different NHL teams and none since 2002 is not a retread?
Lemaire’s done?
The odd’s of Gaborik re-signing just went up to approximately 37.7%.
Wow should have spell checked!!!
Jacques was the only thing holding this poorly assembled group of players together. I’m afraid to see what will happen next year even if DR goes. DR has set this franchise back at least four years. That says a lot in the free agent era.
Amazing NCAA game. That was fun. JL, we will miss you.
Thanks Jacques, I always enjoyed the way that you coached the boys to play and you’re interviews were always great to listen to. You never had an issue calling out a player, not matter who they were and you got some great results out of some no name talent.
This was an easy decision for Lemaire. He knows the Wild are going to suck next year. Risebrough made promises at the end of last year to improve the team. He lied. FIRE RISEBROUGH!!!
What’s the rule for sending players down to Houston?
What is the rule for sending GM’s down to Houston….permanently
Russo, did he wait until just after the cameras were off during the post-game?
Thank God! Didn’t watch one game this year because Rolston is gone. Risebrough should be next. Don’t look now but the Wild have turned into the Wolves and the Vikings!
KiPA…I am with you.
I DO NOT WANT KC COACHING THE WILD NEXT YEAR.
JL polished more turds in the past 9 years than a man should be expected to. However, he approached the challenge with everything he had, and I guarantee you - he was more satisfied with the run in ‘03 than perhaps his Cup winning team in NJ.
I would like to see someone new behind the bench. Someone that isn’t a re-tread. Breathe new life into the organization.
We will be lucky to win 30 next year…
and I like it and I have to go
Is that just lost in translation or is he being ‘forced’ out???
[…] Russo’s Rants – […]
Ha, kj, I didn’t say I didn’t want Constantine coaching the Wild, just that I thought it was comical to label him as a non-retread.
Thanks, Jacque. Can you take Doug Riseborough with you?
The speculation begins. Who will Leipold choose. Just say no to Constantine. We’ve endured enough grind it out 1-0 wins.
Promote Nolan to player coach. 1st order of business:
1)flog Belanger
We sure must have turned over some rocks. All the insects are coming out.
Good luck Jacque! I’ll take Constantine, and I have no problems re-signing Gabby for 2 years if he’s interested.
KiPA…ok, so I expanded on your sentiment. Obviously, it means more to me… 
Yes Pewter! I LOVED Jacques, but I agree he needed to step aside, even if the Wild take a step back for a couple years. If this makes sense at all, he is such a good coach that he made average players look good, and we were never going to Win a cup with our current roster. I mean he made Shoula look like an NHL defenseman, which should put him in the Hall of Fame with that alone:) Someone will come in and struggle, proving that this roster is not good enough to win. On the flipside, I think he hindered the development of some of our younger guys, specifially Sheppard. Too much concentration on D took away from his offensive ability.
Don’t get me wrong, I didn’t mind the Constantine years in Pittsburgh.
http://downloads.wild.nhl.com/podcasts/1225_POSTGAME.MP3
Lemaire confirmed it with Tom Reid. You can listen to his remarks.
this is a clear sign the team did not respond to a solid coach. Amazing if the coach saw it and decided to leave on his own or the players pushed him out. If I ever hear he left so the team could keep Gabby I’ll give up on that guy so fast. Players that impact teams this way and influence coaching decisions are too big for the game and need to be knocked down.
Does anyone know where I can find a list of Wild players (besides Gabby) who are UFA or RFAs this year?
KiPA…no matter…the organization needs a philosophical break from the past. Someone that wants to utilize a more aggressive forecheck and try to force the play, instead of laying back and trying for turnovers.
I really think the honeymoon is over and entertaining hockey needs to return to Minnesota.
I guess if I get my wish, we will find out if it was Backstrom or the system… 
Hockeymom32…
Le merci, Jacques, pour nous montrer comment jouer au jeu correctement.
Farewell, JL. and thanks for all you did for this fledgling team.
As for the next coach, I see Riseblow sticking with his Montreal is Hockey Mecca rule and trying to land his old pal Guy Carbonneau.
Smash mouth- I agree if that’s the case, that would be ridiculous. I don’t think that’s what happened though. I think Lemaire just wanted out of town..if he didn’t, he wouldn’t have resigned 10 minutes after the last game…this has been on his mind for a while.
kj: so you’re saying you don’t want to see Risebrough hire Michel Therrien?
FIRE RISEBROUGH
No…no talk about Risebrough. HE MUST LEAVE FOR THE WILD TO GET BETTER>
I think its clear that Lemaire was not pushed out because we would have heard rumblings from management. All we heard this year was that Lemaire himself was thinking of not coming back.
And, if Gaborik had any say in who was the coach, the Wild would have let Lemaire go in 2006 when Gaborik was bemoaning the system holding him back and he was looking at his next contract. Since Lemaire earned a contract extension that fall, we know that Gaborik has no pull as to who is the Wild coach.
Constantine was brought in because the kids in Houston were acting like idiots. He is a task master and is all about discipline. He has a personality that makes Brad Childress look charismatic - doubt the Wild will bring him in. Dean Blais would be a great pick. He would play up tempo game and gets a ton out of his players.
JL, thanks for 9 great years. My best wishes for the future.
You’ll be missed, coach. I knew this was coming, but I’m sad that it’s official. Thank you.
whats wrong with this new owner??make mike ramsey head coach,hire new g.m. or the wild will end up as messed up as the vikings!!!
Ahh crud.
I’m a Blackhawk fan, who absolutely respects the job that Jacques Lemaire has done for the Wild amd Minnesota. He is a Stanley Cup Champion as a player and coach !!! The people who bash him are nuts. The Wild was an expansion team !!!!! And he made them respectable immediately . I tell my buddies in Chitown you don’t want to play the Wild in the playoffs and thank God they don’t !! Best Wishes Jacques and you did break my heart as a kid when you were a Hab!!
NEw Owner…clueless…just like Risebrough
Move JL to GM, FIRE RISEBROUGH, Sign Gaborik.
Peter Laviolette.
Bring him to me.
Jacques, you will be missed. As I said in an earlier thread tonight, he took a bunch of cast-offs, 3rd 7 4th-liners and over-the-hill vets and made someting of it. Now, a sulking, me-first, petulant 27-year-old sniper forward is forcing him out of the game.
Note to Craig Leipold: Your house cleaning is only half done now. Now finish the job. Doug Risebrough needs to go, also.
WOW.. Good luck Coach
I waiting for the articles with the players’ reaction especially from guys like Gaborik, Schultz, Koivu, PMB, Burns, and SRV. These guys have only known Lemaire as their head coach in the NHL for more than 3 years.
I hate to tell you guys but this is a players league losing Gabby will have much more of an impact on this team. Who cares about JL but i admit DR is the guy that should go because he has wreck this club players that need to go
EB25
KJ 5
SV 19
send shep down for half a year until he can prove he can score
If they lose gabby it does not matter unless they get VL from Tampa or the twins from the canucks
Now, a sulking, me-first, petulant 27-year-old sniper forward is forcing him out of the game.
Your evidence to support this?
In his final season as a player with the Habs, Jock-U scored a career playoff best 23 points in 16 games and then retired.
Pretty much calls his own shots doesn’t he?
Is that Montreal calling on line 1??
Jacques…. If this is it my friend I don’t have the words right now to properly thank you, perhaps I’ll find them in a few days and fire off a note to you. I was in St. Loo last night and was relegated to listening to the Wild game on Sat XM radio and I guess now the post-game hints were obvious. In my briefcase is a program from a Habs-NorthStars game from 1973, your friend Henri Richard is on the cover and inside is a photo of you along with some notes.
The Habs teams you were on were a thing to behold, 20 guys night after night that knew their jobs and their roles inside out, to a tee and then some. Like a piano concerto, a fine watch, great wine, the finest engine ever assembled humming along with the greatest of efficiency, you tried to re-create that here for those of us who love the game and the league. Your efforts and accomplishments will not be forgotten by those of us who consider ourselves to be true, patient and knowledgeable fans. You are a gem, a true and real diamond… You made us real right out of the chute…. Thanks and best wishes….
So, what hot new coach DOES everyone want to lead the Wild?
Kevin: JL does not want to keep fighting the Gaborik battle any more. He’d rather switch than fight, to use the old tobacco line.
In order for the Wild to have any shot — at all — of keeping the petulant one, JL needed to go. He didn’t want to fight Trencin City Hall any longer.
Unfortunately, Jacque will always be questioned for his style. But the talent just wasn’t there. Doug is the guy responsible for the talent and philosophy of this team - and it has not been successful. Doug should be turning in his resignation, not Jacque. Risebrough just doesn’t get it. I’ve been a season ticket holder from day one, and the only question on this franchise from the beginning was DR. He couldn’t get it done with his former teams, and won’t get it done here. DR is timid, afraid of making a mistake. He couldn’t lead a pack of cub scouts to an ice cream stand. Unfortunately, he probably has the support of the new owner. This season will go down as a wash because of Gabby, which is garbage, and next season’s declining attendance will be blamed on the economy. So DR will get all the excuses he needs to get by for a few more years with a boring team. Just what he deserves, because it mirrors his approach to the game. This team has no talent in the farm system, can’t judge talent, and Constantine is a used-car. He’s just a hard-head who will beat up on the players and blame them for losses. This team, from top down, is a mess.
New coach: Guy Lapointe?
People giving Gaborik too much credit in Lemaire’s retirement.
DR’s actions or his inactions probably affected Lemaire’s decision more than Gaborik ever did.
Why would Lemaire retire if the thinking is that there is a 99% chance of Gaborik leaving? He would not have to deal with Gaborik anymore…
Doesn’t make sense….
Thanks Coach JL. You and Wesley rekindled my love for hockey.
No loss. From First to no playoffs. Well, Buh Bye!!!
KJ, good post two threads ago at 10:31. That is not to say that I agree that the Wild organization is not striving to win the Cup. Maybe it seems that way. Only time will tell.
MKiA, you were right about JL and the first to state it that I saw. I wish it were not true. He has turned many boys into men.
Late to the party… or is it a wake??
I know I will miss JL. Especially if KC comes up here and does what he is rumored to do… I wonder who else will say goodbye now?
I don’t follow the scene enough; where was the Lemaire quote that said “I’ve had it with Gaborik”?
Thanks for everything Coach Lemaire. It’s too bad you never got to coach a championship quality roster.
In Minnesota anyway.
Mister Know it all has thought about where JL will end up and the answer is a couple of options
Option 1
Tampa Bay
Why ?
He lives in Florida
The lighting are unstable. This is where Lemaire fits in best. He will be most interested in this type of position
The only way he does not coach a team like Tampa is if he is not comfortable with the owner and the GM. The owner and the GM are very important for a guy like JL. He is a wise man and wants no part of the BS. He knows DR and is comfortable with him
Option 2 maybe Houston ? Maybe Constantine coaches the Wild and JL coaches the Aeros
Didn’t watch one game this year because Rolston is gone.
There is something seriously wrong with that statement. You have issues.
is if he is not comfortable with the owner and the GM. The owner and the GM are very important for a guy like JL. He is a wise man and wants no part of the BS
In the Ancient Macedonian language, Tampa Bay translates as “BS.” Those owners and GM are completely clueless (and I saw a rumor/report that said the two owners weren’t on speaking terms with each other.)
If Lemaire wants a completely chaotic situation to go to, Tampa fits it to a T.
Option 2 maybe Houston ? Maybe Constantine coaches the Wild and JL coaches the Aeros
HAHHAHAhshhahHAHA!! LOL!That is the funniest thing I have heard in a long time.
I’ve been a Wild fan from since the time they played their very first game. It will be weird not having Jacques behind the bench. Thanks for the memories, Jacques. You did the best you could with what you were given to work with. Best of luck in your future endeavors.
An enormous amount of credit is due to this coaching team of Lemaire, Tremblay, and Ramsey, who left a very memorable mark on Minnesota hockey history during the past 9 years.
And Russo, don’t you think an article asking a coach to step down is just a tad harsh?
I’m waiting for someone to write an article asking you to step down from your job, Russo.
Sunshine at 9:53, thoughtful post.
Think back to when Bud Grant left the Vikings, they hired Les Steckel. Lets hope not!
Would Trotz be looking for a job? Would the Wild consider moving Trembley or Ramsey to the head coach?
The presser after the Predator game, JL was pretty definite about being satisfied with the players on the roster. I can’t say he whether he was sincere or not but he said it and it sounded sincere.
Sometime, there it is just time to leave. Maybe JL thinks he has been preaching too long to the same guys and they need to hear a different message.
My vote goes to BOB HARTLEY! former avs coach get him in here
The point is Austin Texas Wild fan. He is likely not to take a position where any BS exists. He wont. If he wants to coach and he is not with the Wild. Where can he coach without the BS ? The Wild might be it…. Where does he coach Dawg ?
Well I guess everyone is a retread then. I had forgotten KC had coached in the NHL before but it seems every coach get 3 or 4 chances.
I’ll definitely miss JL. He is a fantastic coach. But I’d like to hear what Russo would have said. There is an argument to be made that the JL allows DR to do a poor job and then trust JL to put together a team with it. DR has a lot of work ahead of him.
The point is Austin Texas Wild fan. He is likely not to take a position where any crap exists. He wont. If he wants to coach and he is not with the Wild. Where can he coach without the crap ? The Wild might be it…. Where does he coach Dawg ?
Right on, Brian. I think asking DR to step down would be a much better article. Lemaire is one of the few coaches who can get a bunch of 3rd liners to get this close to the playoffs.
Trotz just got a 3-year extension over the summer. He’s not going anywhere anytime soon.
I DONT WANT ANOTHER DEFENSIVE COACH AND IF WE GET CONSTANTINE HE WILL BE JUST THAT. GOODBYE GABORIK
Pour ceux qui sont rempli avec le doute et avec l’ignorance, les permettre de manger des porcs ! Pour ceux qui ne sait pas de ce qu’ils parlent et ne peuvent pas voir au-delà de leur propre nez, ils ne sauront jamais ou contempleront la beauté. Pas même quand c’est juste devant eux…
Please no Constantine, no Laviolette, and no Carbo the rookie! For the JL and Riser doubters, they have quietly assembled one of the 5 best defensive teams in the freakin’ NHL! Do any of you geniuses know how hard that is to accomplish? Do you believe you will win a Cup w/o that capability? If Gabby plays 70 games this year you could easily add 30 more goals to the clubs “goals for” column, that could translate to 5-8 more victories then they ended the season with, they are back in the playoffs, and possibly would have repeated as division champs.
Having said that, I still think they would need 1-2 more scorers of some note to go beyond a round, but the Gabby injury changed the entire season. Hardly JL or DR’s fault. Sure, I wish the team had more depth, and in the Cap era, so do the other 29 clubs. Yes the roster has holes and depth issues, but I hear this same thing in just about all other NHL cities….
This is going to be the best off season of all of them. DRAMA
MKia: Why would Lemaire want to coach in the minors with the same organization when it’s likely he could coach the NHL team for longer? What would make Houston a more attractive place than Minnesota?
MKIA, I think he is done coaching… but if he does go back if DEFINITELY WILL NOT be in the AHL. If it is, I will eat crow.. but I jsut don’t see it happening.
Nick, thanks for your message re the Nucks yesterday. I wasn’t lurking but I am today. Never thought they would win the NW division. Columbus kind of scare me though, I worry that the Canucks may not take them seriously enough.
Hartley? maybe… worth talking to. Patty Quinn???
Craig Mactavish. Brought an eight seed to the finals, coaches an up tempo aggresive forecheck and is probably out in Edmonton.
RE:FrozenWeiner99 says:
April 11th, 2009 at 10:40 pm
+1 well said. Except that French bit… I don’t understand that part
JL, no words can describe how lucky we were to have you. A million thank yous. All runs must come to an end though. And if this means Gabby stays, I will take that deal. As a season tix holder, I want to see Gabby in this building in a Wild jersey. Mulitiply 13 goals over 17 games and he’s a 62-goal scorer and we’re probably a 3 seed. He is an elite player in his prime, adn I think the injuries are behind him. DR needs to make a good coaching decision now, sure, but signing Gabby is way bigger.
Columbus kind of scare me though, I worry that the Canucks may not take them seriously enough.
Why in the world would you worry about that. I don’t care who beats the Nucks.. but I want them to be swept in the first round if possible. Eff those rat bastards.
Austin: Alan is a Canucks fan, that’s why he’s worried.
Pewterschmidt says: “The odd’s of Gaborik re-signing just went up to approximately 37.7%”
I was thinking something like that, too. I knew that both Lemaire and Gaborik wouldn’t be back next year, but this could increase Gaborik’s chances of staying. We have great health care here.
Columbus kind of scare me though, I worry that the Canucks may not take them seriously enough.
ooohhhh yeeeeahhh… I forgot about that. Sorry Alan. But I hope they lose in the first!!
Don Lucia? Just askin’.
They need to get a coach pretty soon or UFAs might pass on the Wild if they don’t know who is going to be on the bench.
We have great health care here.
Then why did he go to Colorado for surgery?
Oh, Russo, in case you forgot, one of the reasons Rolston didn’t come back is because the Wild traded his rights to Tampa Bay.
AustinTXwildfan says: “Then why did he go to Colorado for surgery?”
Good point.
One thing that I am looking forward to, although Lemaire was a great coach, is consistent lines. A lot of times this year, it looked like there was just no chemistry out on the ice.
No guarantee a new coach won’t change up lines as much as Lemaire did.
Thank You JL! He was the perfect coach to grow this organization, period! Marion may want to see the big lights somewhere else, and may not have liked the way JL handled him, but MG is not the same player without JL coaching this team for the past 8 years. MG is gone, and DR has a list of possible replacements. Whole different team next year, and I will be watching the moves and reading Russo all summer long. But it just won’t be the same without JL! Thanks for all the memories JL!
I’m listening to the post-game interview of JL by Reid … he sure makes it sound like it was his decision - i.e., that he thinks it was time for him to go.
Brian - They traded Rolston’s rights away a few days before free agency, when it was clear he wasn’t coming back. It had nothing to do with him leaving.
A few thoughts off the top of my head:
Jacques is headed back to Montreal. What will be interesting is if Mario wants to go back with him, and if the Habs will take Mario back. The last time they let Mario behind the bench he chases away a Hall of Fame goalie.
And what happens to Ramsey? I always thought he was being groomed to be the heir, but if that were the case, they probably would have sent him to Houston at some point to be the head guy for a while. Doesn’t seem like they can turn things over to him now. Will the new coach want him?
Too bad the NYR took Tortarella already.
Well, Sonja Henie’s out.
Pretty sure it won’t be Barry Melrose.
Marc Crawford looks bored on HNIC. Maybe he can get Dan Cloutier to come here too.
Let’s be clear. Gaborik is a great player but injury prone. Besides that, he has always had an attitude of a free agent. We wouldn’t get anything for him but we do clear salary cap space for a more durable scorer with a better attitude.
As for JL, 15 years is a long time coaching one team. JL wore on players and players wore on him. I don’t blame JL for getting on Sheppard, but you can’t ride all players as if they are the same.
The coaching and star player change can result in a negative outcome, but it could also set the franchise on a stronger course. We shall see.
I think Russo is wrong about Lemaire being pushed out. I think Powers of the Pio had it right — Lemaire just knew when it was time to go.
I think the one thing I will miss about Lemaire is his ability to teach essential skills and the development of the players. You have to admit that it took him awhile but he did teach Gaborik to play defense.
How about this scenario?
1) Flames flop in the 1st round of the playoffs.)
2)Calgary fires Keenan.
3) We hire Keenan.
4) Russo’s head explodes.
4) Russo’s head explodes.
I laughed.
I am not sure if Scotty Bowman is with Chicago as an advisor, but I would take him as GM, Coach or consultant
Nice one Goalieguy.
I think Laviolette has to be at the top of the list. A cup winner who likes the sort of up-tempo attack so many fans here seem to be clamoring for. He’s won everywhere he’s been…
I am not sure if Scotty Bowman is with Chicago as an advisor, but I would take him as GM, Coach or consultant
You would have to be in a coma to not want Scotty in your organ-eye-zation.
Troy Jutting, make it happen folks. Fred Hoiberg as GM. Bombardir, Darby, and Gorg as the assistants.
class act, true minnesota guy. we won’t ever forget you, jaques.
guys like gardy, jaques, and chillr…. guys like gardy and jaque don’t some around too often
Troy Jutting, make it happen folks. Fred Hoiberg as GM. Bombardir, Darby, and Gorg as the assistants.
That made me laugh out loud.. I disturbed the Wife’s TV watching.
I’m not leaving Mankato.
While its sad to lose Lemaire and Gaborik, its also an opportunity for a new direction, philosophy, and players to step.
They have no fallbacks in Lemaire’s system or Gaborik’s scoring. It will be a new start for everybody.
I’m re-reading Russo’s post and it seems to contradict itself. On one hand he’s speculates that JL was told “it’s time,” but then he also says he thinks JL realized hiimself it was time.
The nugget about one player cursing him in practice is interesting - who might that have been - as is the rift between he and Shep?
Oh, and one other thing - I know Kenny Holland is a genius, but an 11 year deal to 29-year old Franzen? wow
Could’ve been both, HD. Lemaire might have thought it was time, then management agreed with him. Or vice versa.
Saw it mentioned on Twitter and it makes perfect sense, Todd Richards as the next Wild head coach, especially after he wins the Stanley Cup with San Jose!
If there was trouble in the room with 51 and DR had to mediate then 51 has to grow up, he is DR’s boy. He said in the Stp. paper the other day he must be pretty good cause he is in the N.H.L.,and he plans to play for 12-15 years no one from here would question that he is good if he is in the show, but you have to be better than 4goals last year and 5 goals this year. Do the math James 6 goals next year and so on an so on. Jacques didn’t stop you from scoring, you look like your lost out there. Thanks Jacques and good luck in Montreal maybe the players there will show the proper respect.
KiPA: I think you are right — Lemaire knew it was time to go and management probably didn’t try too hard to stop him.
Interesting about the cursing.
Ted Nolan, anyone?
fire Doug now
Let the Mike Ramsey era begin…..
Mister Know it all is right again…
didn’t you also say that the wild would win the stanley cup?
Yep, KiPA, now after reading the Don’s Insider column for tomorrow, I think you might be right. Almost sounds as if there was a mini-mutiny toward the end here. Would love to know who that veteran player that cursed him was? Trying to think a a vocal vet. JL sure seemed to rule out Bruno. Belanger maybe?
Belanger is a good guess as any. He seems to not be shy about his opinions. I thought we were done with the optional practices after Rolston left…. guess not. They get 4 months off where they don’t even practice if they don’t want to.
Shep — come on. You are not great yet. Learn from Lemaire and you can become good. I hate to say this but I thought Olvecky looked better centering Bruno and Gaborik than Shep.
Could’ve been both, HD. Lemaire might have thought it was time, then management agreed with him. Or vice versa.
Yep I think that is it and if it looks like mangaement research shows it is time for change as the fan base’s desire for hope is too strong for DR to ignore or CL to let him ignore. I think they get a top coach but it still takes a miracle to get Gaby to resign with the new look Wild.
Belanger is a good guess. He’s surly anyway.
Thanks Jacques for doing a first class job and getting the Wild off to a solid beginning in a state that deserves a great NHL hockey team.
Mr. Leipold, if you are thinking about making other changes, now is the time. Build on the foundation that is in place and lets get this team to the next level on competitiveness.
First off, we were lucky to have Lemaire coach this team the past 8 years. Without him, we could have been like Atlanta, or Columbus.
Second, many of these players were lucky to have had him coach them. The guys who matured under Lemaire will be better players in the long run, as a result of his teaching. Some don’t get it, but may do.
My guess is he takes the job in Montreal. I’m sure Gainey will offer it, or at least test his interest unless he’s already done so, but hasn’t (tampering). I think it will be good for him to go to Montreal. Everyone’s a free agent, and Gainey can assemble a team to Lemaire’s liking. Just like the Wild, Montreal is going to be undergoing some major changes in the off-season.
The Montreal job became available when Gainey fired Carbonneau. I’m sure Jacques has known for several weeks he could have a shot at that job. But who knows. He won’t be in the Wild organization, and despite the “he was asked to step down” talk, I’m sure it wasn’t so one-sided. I’m also it didn’t have any bearing on the ability to sign big name free agents either.
Risebrough failed Lemaire, and didn’t give him what he needed as far as a team goes. The players failed him too. They didn’t buy into his system, or disliked his style, and methods of coaching. But he might have also let them down as well. Times change, and with it so do the attitudes, and expectations of the players. What might have been easy 15 years ago in New Jersey, might not be so easy now. Then, players wouldn’t talk back to their coach as easily, or at least in front of others. Now, some don’t care, and they’re going to voice their objections loudly. It’s a sign of the times.
Lemaire had to step down. It’s the right thing to do, not because of anything other than a change is needed sometimes. It’s also quite possible that Risebrough is on his way out. I’m sure many of you would relish that, and I wouldn’t mind either. But with a new owner having one season under his belt that didn’t go as planned, he might be ready to clean out the old, and usher in the new. If DR is in fact going to be gone, I can understand Lemaire wanting to go now, rather than later.
I guess we’ll see who’s the GM come June.
Now is the time to totally clean house
I couldn’t say it any better than “FrozenWeiner99.” I refuse to blame JL for this team’s failures. He is obviously a great coach and a Class Act. By the way…”JOE”, you’re an idiot. And I still hate DR…PLEASE FIRE THIS JERK! I would love to see JL go somewhere and win a Cup within 3 years. That would be GREAT!
[…] Russo’s Rants – […]
Farewell Jacques, you are an amazing coach and may you find your way to a championship caliber team. You will be missed!
I officially start the campaign for LAVIOLETTE 09′
Everyone needs to be gone management wise as well. When is Leopold going to listen to the fans, we all want him gone. DR and his scouts are not cut out for this job clearly and need to be replaced asap. We must start fresh with an american coach, this state of hockey team should be run by an american. Laviolette 09′
Lemaire is one of the most overrated coaches in recent NHL history…thank god the incompetent old fart is finally gone, and even better, he won’t even be apart of the organization.
FINALLY !!!!!!
Just for kicks
Listen! This damn coach should have been fired with doug r in 2004 like i said. This bs trap and no hit policy system is finally over. Lemaire is the biggest pu$$y coach next to mctavish. So take your a$$ with skoula,shep,Doug r,veillieux,belanger,johnnson,bouchard,gillies and shove them straight up your french a$$. Thanks for nothing mf. PS f you Bettman.
Vinny44, you’re an idiot. I love it when people come on here and just sound like morons- makes my day.
Vinny, you must have just become a fan in ‘04. Thanks for nothing?? I’m guessing that at 4:25, you were staring at 14 Busch cans on top of the 19 inch tv with the aluminum foil antenna hooked to it at the ‘ol trailer park, still bitching about “the trap”, and how this team is nothing. You are truly an idiot.
MuN hit it right. DR failed JL with a lack of talent. The players also failed JL in not buying into “his system”. The trap? The cause of boring hockey? No way. Every team in the NHL plays some version of it, as it demands being positionally sound, and strong backchecking when you get caught up ice. Watch other teams games if you have Center Ice (sorry Vinny, go get another Buschy), they all have four guys standing up at the blue line. Properly played “defensive” hockey sprouts great offensive chances. We’ve seen it. Do you really think that the Wild would survive night after night of playing an all-out attacking style? You have to play defense sometime. Thw Wild has shown on occasion that they could play an attacking style and open things up, but the nights that they were excellent at it, were also the nights that they were backchecking strongly.
DR has a chance to take things in a decent direction this offseason, and it should be an interesting one.
Jacques, thanks for 9 years of great hockey. It was a pleasure to listen to your teachings, and watch your team play. Good luck in your future endeavors!!
[…] Wild coach Jacques Lemaire is retiring. […]
[…] Wild coach Jacques Lemaire is retiring. […]
Go get that nerdy looking guy that has turned the Penguins season around.
fatboy, you are on the money.Clowns like jaromirblogger decry the Wild fro playing the trap but have no idea what they are watching, if they are watching. When the Wild were on, they were a quick-skating team that would take advantage of openings. No idea what the new coach will bring or which players will fit with the new coach. Lots of changes coming.
When you have a team playing the trap playing against a team that’s cautious against the trap you get some of the most mindnumbing hockey ever played. Since woodcock’s mind is ever numb, he never even noticed. Happy Easter.
Hate to say it, vinny even though had a night of the drink is dead on. 2004 to this day was painful to watch and they were non-talented college players. Lemaire cant teach his style of play to knot heads that cant play. There does need to be a change with the GM-He couldnt run a candy store. So i say with vinny F-U DR and Bettman! lol
How about Ted Nolan. Or maybe an American. Sorry to see Jacques leave. Hell New Jersey won a Cup with him as coach. I can’t figure out what Gan=borick is griping about. The sytem was tailor made for his style of play. Too many so called State of Hockey Experts. Get a clue, Minnesota is not a High Profile Players Paradise. Can’t hit the links in February.
First - excellent job this year Russo. You are the best in hockey.
Lemaire had to go. The reality is if top shelf talent does not want to play for him, then a change is required. His need to drive guys with extra practices and little time off doesn’t work. Not playing Gabby on a key 4-3 power play is beyond stupid and stubborn.
DR also needs to go. But — Russo needs to stay!
The honeymoon has ended at the X. Missing the playoffs is inexcusable — I have no idea if I’ll purchase seasons again next year.
CL needs to listen to the fans. JL and DR have run their course.
CL - few fans (based on my friends, the posts I read and even comments from beat writers) seem to respect DR.
If you want to move this franchise forward, get a new GM and a new head coach should be your top priority.
I can understand the rumor basis behind players not wanting to play for JL. I can personally see the reason why, if I was a great NHL coach, I would NOT want to be subject to DR’s blunders.
was it last year there was a story about JL going into the workout room and seeing walz on a treadmill after practice or something and seeing jimmy shepard watching TV? as JL thinking it should be the other way around?
unfortunately, hockey is becoming more like the NBA where the players run the asylum, due to the money they make.
my thoughts are DR didn’t hold up his end of the bargain when he persuaded JL to come back. you can kinda tell going back to the sid article where JL basically says he was pleased with the year once he adjusted expectations to the talent level.
I do not think for one second #10 forced JL to vacate.
the boys have seemed to play well the last 5 or 6 games. is this because JL checked out?
DR should offer #10 the contract he offered last summer.
was it last year there was a story about JL going into the workout room and seeing walz on a treadmill after practice or something and seeing jimmy shepard watching TV? as JL thinking it should be the other way around?
unfortunately, hockey is becoming more like the NBA where the players run the asylum, due to the money they make.
my thoughts are DR didn’t hold up his end of the bargain when he persuaded JL to come back. you can kinda tell going back to the sid article where JL basically says he was pleased with the year once he adjusted expectations to the talent level.
I do not think for one second #10 forced JL to vacate.
the boys have seemed to play well the last 5 or 6 games. is this because JL checked out?
DR should offer #10 the contract he offered last summer.
cool, double post. first time for everything.
Awesome run for Jacques and our club. He will be missed. However, the Team of 18,000 deserves a better product than Risebrough has delivered. He’s got to go.
Congrats to NiNY on your selection by the Don as Russo Ranter of the Year. I would be leaning on him for an all-expenses paid trip to Vegas to accept the award during the NHL festivities.
Finally! cheers to all waiting for this. This is the best day for Wild fans. Change was necessary to sell more tickets next season. Playing defense is only 1 side of hockey. If everyone knows your game plan ever game, you’re screwed. 8 years was long over due. If a team fails to show signs of improvement changes in management and coaches should be accountable. I heard Montreal is turmoil, they could used 8 year of JL.
Next change is to dump off Marian Gaborik, this guy is to much of a liability for injury for the money and team. Minnesota needs team grinders that grew of dreaming to raising the stanely cup. Grinders not prone to injury, guys committed to taking one for the team, players that suck it up to do what they love. The wild needs more Ownen Nolans, Cal clutterbucks, John Scotts.
Cheers.
1/18000
jaromir my mind gets numb from reading blog postings from “experts” like you. Go back to reading Souhan and Reusse on hockey. They are your speed. Much rather read NiNY, Greenie, ms. C, the texas folks, Ice and some of the DR-haters who are intelligent in their complaints.
Yes, we only played to 103% of capacity, so we clearly need to “sell more tickets next seasons.”
>>>my thoughts are DR didn’t hold up his end of the bargain when he persuaded JL to come back<<<
I think that is a big part of it as well, althought Jock-U seemed to recognize the part injuries played.
Given the way the season went, there is a lot of pressure on Smug. If things were progressing, the anti-Jock-U attitude from FA’s could be lived with. However, the economy, potential loss of Gaby and a disappointing season require significant positive action from Smug. If he truly is handicapped because he can’t get FA’s to play for JL, then he at least isn’t too disappointed with this development if not altogether the one who asked JL to leave.
When things aren’t going well, people start rubbing each other the wrong way and picking on the little things. “Look Coach. I understand you want us to do this and that and bust our butts even harder, but the fact is, even if we do that, we don’t have the talent to be successful. Quit blaming us.” If the team was battling for a division title, the petty stuff is water off a duck’s back.
9 years is a long time to be a coach in one place. He is the only coach other than Bud Grant that I would take the time to listen to.
I’m going to need to take some time away from the game to see if I want to come back next year. I have enough years to qualify as an unrestricted free agent fan(UFAF), and may just pick-up CI and adopt a Smug-less organ-EYE-zation to watch.
Finally! cheers to all waiting for this. This is the best day for Wild fans. Change was necessary to sell more tickets next season. Playing defense is only 1 side of hockey. If everyone knows your game plan ever game, you’re screwed. 8 years was long over due. If a team fails to show signs of improvement changes in management and coaches should be accountable. I heard Montreal is turmoil, they could used 8 year of JL.
Next change is to dump off Marian Gaborik, this guy is to much of a liability for injury for the money and team. Minnesota needs team grinders that grew of dreaming to raising the stanely cup. Grinders not prone to injury, guys committed to taking one for the team, players that suck it up to do what they love. The wild needs more Ownen Nolans, Cal clutterbucks, John Scotts.
Cheers.
1/18000
SotB: +1 on Ranter of the Yeat. NiNY - direct kudos from Micheal and direct ink in the Strib. Very cool.
That will look nice on NiNY’s resume’. Although if I was his boss, I would be curious as to how much time he is spending on “Rants”
Green*: Is that really you? “DR should offer #10 the contract he offered last summer.”
Nobody stole your name, right?
To Craig Leipold and Phil Falcone…
Now that JL is leaving, it might be best to cut Mr. Risebrough loose and really make a fresh start with this club. And, as I’ve said here before, not enough criticism is being directed at Tommy Thompson and the scouting department. They’ve done a poor job selecting players after Rounds 1-2, leaving their organization with absolutely no depth. Time to revamp the organization there too!!! To Jay Ferguson…Troy Jutting? Great guy, but NHL coach? You better take a Shakedown Cruise to Thunder Island.
And, DR was on Sid’s show this morning and he said he won’t be offering Gaborik a LT contract.
It seems like “heat of the battle outbursts” would not be unusual in any organization. And, more especially when things are not going well. So, it might not be so unusual for players to disdain the coach and even curse him when the pressure is on.
For the record, I’m neutral on DR Woodcock, though many who contribute to this blog guess otherwise.
But, my respect for JL is immense. He is a class act and will be greatly missed in the organization.
Probably however, a team can only have the same message from the same messenger for so long. And, then there is a mutiny of sorts as the “inmates” quit listening. Big time sports is full of big ego’s, if not players could not survive in the NHL and other professional leagues.
It is sad that Leipold has put all his faith in D.R. It is Risborough, not Lemaire, who is responsible for the poor drafts and other bad personnel decisions that leave this team with so little young talent and scoring ability compared to other teams we are on the cusp with like the Blues, Predators and Ducks. The 2009-10 season prospects look pretty bleak now. How old will our two leading scorers be next year?
sunshine…did Smug really say that on Sid’s show? Wow.
You think you’ve heard it all from him and then he goes and says something even dumber. How could you NOT want to re-sign your best player to a long term deal?
I’ve been a Gho$t detractor, but sheesh. It must be another attempt at one upsmanship with $alcer. Might as well have said FU.
After saying that, he has guaranteed nothing in return for Gho$t.
So, sit back, relax, enjoy the Wild-less postseason. See another team crowned as Champion. Smug selects a coach that causes 18,000 posts of venom to Russo’s Rants. Get to the draft and watch Smug eff up trading Harding. Trade a 2nd rounder (we have no 3rd) to move up 2 spots in the first round to take a defenseman. Fast forward to July 1 and watch as one UFA after another rejects the Wild. Ask ms.c for tips on how to be an AHL fan…
Smug using Sid as his mouthpiece…..twice in the last couple weeks.
He has finished the season at a -21 as far as I’m concerned. Bottom of the league.
i effing hate DR.
“Mister Know it all has thought about where JL will end up and the answer is a couple of options
Option 1
Tampa Bay
Why ?
He lives in Florida
The lighting are unstable. This is where Lemaire fits in best. He will be most interested in this type of position
The only way he does not coach a team like Tampa is if he is not comfortable with the owner and the GM. The owner and the GM are very important for a guy like JL. He is a wise man and wants no part of the BS. He knows DR and is comfortable with him
Option 2 maybe Houston ? Maybe Constantine coaches the Wild and JL coaches the Aeros”
Just when I start to beleive you’re making a reasonable and informed post, you mention Houston. If that was a joke, I didn’t get it.
I did not hear the remarks Sunshine, but what was the context of the remarks? Was it that he was trying to get a short-term deal done?
“Wild09 says:
April 11th, 2009 at 11:16 pm
I am not sure if Scotty Bowman is with Chicago as an advisor, but I would take him as GM, Coach or consultant”
Wow. I hadn’t considered Scotty Bowman. Why did he leave the D? He obviously doesn’t want out of hockey if he’s taken a job with Chi.
now that would make my summer if the Wild hired Bowman…no matter what the job (coach, GM, trainer, scout)
Out of the guys I mentioned, only Hoiberg and Darby are welcome out on Thunder Island. I might bring Gorg to give to the pirates.
I was hopeful the Wild would create a Tom Kelly sort of role in the organization for JL.
But, JL’s’ comments seem to eliminate that option.
Phil Falcone’s name has not been mentioned in connection with the Wild for months. His disposable wealth must have shrunk considerably in this economy.
“Shep — come on. You are not great yet. Learn from Lemaire and you can become good. I hate to say this but I thought Olvecky looked better centering Bruno and Gaborik than Shep.”
Shep isn’t even average yet. If 20 yr old Sheppard was able to upset this organization’s apple cart, then this org. is fundamentally F’d (which I don’t believe is the case). Sheppard should feel privileged to play with the big boys and if that isn’t clear to him, someone needs to make him understand that. JL isn’t Shep’s problem. Shep saw about double the ice time he’d have seen on any other team. It’s his responsibility to capitalize.
Good job of pandering, Woodcock. Too bad your ideas stink.
Can’t we all just get along?
1. This team needs Gaborik a hell of a lot more than Gaborik needs the Wild.
2. Lemaire leaving is pointless if Risebrough isn’t right behind him.
3. The Habs press and fans want a French speaking coach…look for Lemaire to go there.
4. If Doug stays on as GM, and Gaborik is allowed to leave….Wild have officially turned into the Western Conference version of the Leafs.
Its not new news that DR is going to offer Gaborik a ST deal and not a LT deal. Russo has reported on that.
I think people are being a little to hard on DR and the scouts on their drafting talent. They have done an amazing job in the draft. The reason why our prospect pool is short is DR trades draft picks like mad to acquire bodies like Simon, Bergeron, Zidlickly, etc.
If you look at some of the people the Wild have drafted and developed here (Gaborik, Koivu, Veilleux, Burns, etc) or they traded/ let go to other teams like O’Sullivan, Ward, etc. They’ve done an amazing job.
People are crazy if they are attacking Sheppard for being a bit immature. He’s 20! He got a huge weight put on his shoulders this year when he was basically named the teams #2 center and every article I read was saying he was going to be on Koivu’s level. Give the kid a break. He probably should have been in Jr’s last year and coming in this year. Give him another year or two and he’s going to be real solid on this team.
The same can be said of Gillies, last year he was playing in jr’s where he could use his size and strength to push people around and this year he’s still developing his frame but playing against guys bigger and stronger then him. In a limited role. Gillies should still be in Jrs developing into a monster power forward…. not wasting time practicing his ping pong.
The problem is DR’s drafting, it’s his desire to trade picks for journeymen and rushing talent.
I was under the impression Bowman went to Chicago to work with his son. I am hoping Lindy Ruff gets fired. he would be good for this team I think.
Clever comeback jaromir. What “ideas” have you ever had.
autographedpuck says:
April 12th, 2009 at 2:29 pm
I think people are being a little to hard on DR and the scouts on their drafting talent. They have done an amazing job in the draft. The reason why our prospect pool is short is DR trades draft picks like mad to acquire bodies like Simon, Bergeron, Zidlickly, etc.
If you look at some of the people the Wild have drafted and developed here (Gaborik, Koivu, Veilleux, Burns, etc) or they traded/ let go to other teams like O’Sullivan, Ward, etc. They’ve done an amazing job.
Veilluex is garbage….Burns has regressed as Jack messes around with his position, O’Sullivan is nothing more than a bit part, Ward is nothing more than a grinder, something the Wild have a whole team of. The drafts have been pathetic. No late round guys have made any impact. The 1st round guys have been mediocre other than Gaborik and Koivu. There are no good prospects waiting in the wings regardless of your thoughts on Cuma. Wild are completely short on talent and have no picks to get any. The scouts suck, Doug is incompetent, this franchise is going nowhere but down.
budstriker….
Lindy Ruff? Sure, if he can bring Thomas Vanek with him!
Teddy Nolan? I would schedule an interview, the guy is as real as it gets.
How about Pat Quinn??
So, many q’s for this off-season. First obviously who will coach and will our “style” change.
Goalie–solid there. Maybe Harding gets traded but won’t get much because he hasn’t had a chance to prove he can be a starting goalie yet. Maybe a pick and a prospect or maybe just a pick
D–1. Can new coach make Zids more defensively responsible so his defensive mistakes don’t counterbalance his offensive skills.
2. Do we sign MAB because he has a cannon or do we conclude we can’t have both MAB and Zids.
3. Can we re-sign Skoula for a decent price.
4. Can Burns regain the form we saw in 07-08 and be the force we think he can be.
5. Do we re-sign Foster? Can he be more than a 6th D.
Upfront
1. How do we replace Gaby? We need 2 guys to replace him–a scoring wing and a decent center.
2. How do we get more scoring. Without Gaby we don’t have much. Sure Bruno is a genius behind the net, Nolan is tough in front of the net, PMB is a good playmaker but he needs someone to make plays for and Koivu is an excellent 2-way center but no one will mistake him for Malkin, Ovechkin, Crosby or even Gaby. The rest are basically 3d or 4th liners.
3. Can Cal, Gillies, Shep, Olvecky make significant improvements.
Just don’t know where we will be next year. Lots of q’s. Guess we will see how it plays out over the off-season.
Hope we don’t get KC.
Last night I was sad, this afternoon with the news sinking in, now I am mad. For guys like Shepp, Gabby etc, who were complaining about the schedule, the tactics and so on… it’s just a B&%$H when someone who has been there and done that is trying to turn you in to a CHAMPION isn’t it???!!!
You punks wouldv’e lasted about 5 minutes on Jacques 1970’s Habs teams. They would have chewed you up and spit you out stat!! You will never be champions until you are ready to turn yourselves over to the process. Nobody gets on the Cup until they, and everyone of their teammates are ready to pay the price.
GG @11:09 last night - thank you for the laugh. Russo’s head explodes.
FW: We don’t know if it was Gaborik that was complaining. If it was, he shouldn’t have anything to complain about since he has been off for almost 5 months. Rolston was the person who came up with the optionals last year.
Shep was the only one mentioned by name because DR had to step in.
One can only hope that Gaboriks next contract includes a job for DR.
Ruesse said it all today. Lemaire can beat you with his team or he can beat you with your team. Winning 40 games with this roster was a miracle, think back to our expectations last fall, especially after MG got hurt. Maybe DR is upset he didn’t get a top 5 draft choice considering the talent he has given us.
SS… a Happy Easter to you. Relative to my mention of Gabby, that is not due to anything I have heard about him this season, yes, he has been out for most of the campaign. I was referring to his greivances of the past about the JL system and his reluctance to fully embrace it.
As far as Shep goes, I think he is basically a good kid but that he got pushed into major league action before he was ready due to other roster/depth issues. IMO he was not a guy that was going to step in as an 18 or 19 year old player and have impact.
The ideal route for him would have been for the club to have those issues settled to the point that he could have brought along in a manner more conducive to his growth as a player/prospect. Then there is that old adage “throw em’ in there” thats the best way to learn….
For JL, hey, it just might be time, my emotions may not let me say that right now, but today…. it sucks!! We just lost one of the greatest hockey guys the league has ever known….
As I have thought about it, I am more curious who the veteran is to curse at JL.
It does not surprise me that guys confront the coach or each other. That is all in the “heat of the moment” and “goes with the territory” when things are not going smoothly.
My feeling too FrozenW99, “we just lost one of the greatest guys/coaches the league has had”.
I think the team has grown considerably this year, I think with just the right fill-ins we could turn the corner and I am sorry that JL will not be here for the “victory lap”.
(How could we ever communicate without “cliche’s”?)
Pewter..
Bowman went to Chicago to be near his son, who is currently battling cancer, and doesn’t have a whole lot of chance. They’re both in the organization there, for now. He won’t be coming here.
FYI for the likes of the JL-style detractors…
Lemaire played under Bowman. Bowman was a defense-first coach in Montreal. They used a transition game, with speed, to win. Lemaire tried this in his stint in Montreal in the 80’s, but he didn’t have the players yet.
When he went to New Jersey, he instituted the same system, with a catch - all 5 in the neutral zone. Bowman was already in Detroit with his Left Wing Lock (which is a variation on the trap using the left wing to fall back into a 1-1-3 zone). Lemaire beat Bowman’s LWL in 4 games, remember? Since then, teams without huge skill players have used the system, or any version of it. The trap is a 1-2-2 zone. Constantine played it too. So did Demers. So do almost all the teams out there. I think Pit and Boston are the 2 I can think of that don’t play some form of a trap.
The idea that players don’t want to come here because of JL is a bit of a stretch. If I am a player my first concern is that this organization has mismanaged its talent. Why would Hossa come here after we let Rolston escape and Demetra left. If Rolston stays maybe Hossa says me, Gaborik, BR - we got some offense. We have a history of not making moves late in the season that are needed. Players are aware of what the organization will do to win. I think Lemaire has a reputation as a defensive coach but he also has a reputation of bringing the best out in players and finding ways to win. It is more of a management issue than a coaching issue why free agents were not signed. And as is often said, management can have a way of looking like they are trying hard to sign someone, but have a history of just falling short every time. Funny how DR has never nailed the big one, always a miscalculation going all the way back to Calgary.
Dont forget the 8 crap players we have that should have gone before lemaire. DR is gone and leipold knows it or the fans will let him know over the summer. This is a business and not a joke. The fans pay a lot of money and want to get something for there buck. I say goodbye DR and take your crap players with ya-Get out of our house!
If you have not read Tom Powers across the river, do. It is a great column!
Russo, just read your awards column. I think you should vote for Sean Avery for Lady Byng. 
Say no to Kevin Constantine (who we probably will actually end up with). His style is as boring as Lemaire, but he’s not the strategist JL is.
Nobody stole your name, right?
right. I’m willing to bet #10 is 100% healed. I don’t think his 12 goals in 17 games was a fluke. I also think he would turn it down.
There will be plenty of time to clean the (easter) egg of DR’s face when he adds this to his failed resume.
For now, I say thanks Mr. Lemaire for the great years as our coach. You were given turds to work with year after year and continued to make us competitive nearly every season. May God have mercy on the next guy who comes in and wins 10 less games with this crew. At least then maybe CL and others will finally see your true value.
- STH since game 1, Schmidty
Can you stand one non hockey item? The last feature spot on tonight’s 60 minutes featured newest prosthetics - smart arm & hand, power knees. They showed a Vietnam vet amputee (used to a hook for a LH) using a prototype arm - he would pick up a bottle of soda. An amazing and a hopeful story, very topical for the day. Hope you can find it online or other. Thanks.
Iceman, Phil Falcone makes money in this economy, he’s a short-seller. The worse the market is, the more he makes.
Thanks JL for a great run here in Minny. 2002-2003 was incredible, especially with the core you had, but they were a team. Unfortunately, many NHL star players now are different from your time. More about the money and stats, less about teamwork and the Cup.
I agree with all who are for Ted Nolan, he was the one I wanted in at the start of the franchise, but JL did very well.
So, have the Wild dumped Gabby’s brother as one of our Euro scouts yet?
What has Guy Lapointe been doing in Europe the last ten years?? OJ (Simpson not Jokinnen) has had better luck looking for the killer than Lapointe has had finding us any Euros. Time to break up the old Habs gang of ours.
I bet Lemaire and Gaborik are listening to this song right now.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GIGTrVQLyR4
Anyways, seeing the wild win three in a row at the end without Burns, Bouchard and Schultz brings questions.
Anyways, seeing the wild win three in a row at the end without Burns, Bouchard and Schultz brings questions.
Like what kind of questions?
jaromir, Guy Lapointe makes sure that DR has reservations at the ski resort in Switzerland when he goes on his summer skiing..oops..scouting trip in the off season.
Also, fantastic job of covering the Wild again this year Mr. Russo. Thanks for the providing your insight.
Well, ones about basic team chemistry. Seems like the Wild really didn’t miss Bouchard at all.
Burns and Schultz are needed though looking at how the scores of the last two games played out.
Nice job this year Russo!
Well, ones about basic team chemistry. Seems like the Wild really didn’t miss Bouchard at all.
Burns and Schultz are needed though looking at how the scores of the last two games played out.
This makes no sense. So the fact that St Louis made the playoffs even when they were riddled with injuries means none of those injured guys are important?
Just because the team won a few games without him doesn’t make a guy less valuable. What about Gaby? And to say that Burns and Schultz were missed is just flat out wrong. Burns has been out a pretty long time now. Was every game he was out end up with 3+ goal against? Nope. Did the Wild score 6 goals every game that Butch was out? Definitely not. There is not merit at all to your statement.
Butch needs to play with the right players. The rap on OJ (who we should have traded Sheppard for last summer) is that he doesn’t distribute the puck like a centerman should. He could have teamed up with Bouchard who doesn’t want to drive to the scoring areas and shoot the puck like a winger should. They would have made a good @ss backwards pair.
Green*:
Okay. Just checking. I thought you would have said good riddance.
****
We have yet to see Gaborik and his speed over the last 10+ games, but I think he’s a better player now then last year. Maybe its just that we have been missing his offense so much that I am salivated at his 10 goals, 5 assists and he’s not as tired as the other guys.
who we should have traded Sheppard for last summer)
Why? So we could have dedalt him at this year’s deadline like PHX did?
Bouchard who doesn’t want to drive to the scoring areas and shoot the puck like a winger should.
After the All-Star Break he started shooting a lot more, and he also drove the net more. I agree he doesn’t do it quite enough.. but he made a consious effort to get better after the break. Hopefully he keeps it up.
So we could have dedalt him at this year’s deadline like PHX did?
Eh, you guys were in playoff discussion and also not going bankrupt. Phoenix can’t say either of those.
The Wild need to make a run at Gabby. He is very dynamic and not replaceable. Should be able to get a discount too based on his groins.
JL, you will be missed and you are my favorite coach. But I’m trusting your judgement, maybe it is time for a change. Would have probably been a 4 seed if the injuries didn’t occur. Good job coaching this year.
I think MiKa should be the new coach… I mean, he knows it ALL..
Eh, you guys were in playoff discussion and also not going bankrupt. Phoenix can’t say either of those.
Fair point.
Why all the Ted Nolan love? Hasn’t he bounced around quite a bit? Wasn’t he with the Islander’s for 1/2 season and got the hook? Isn’t he the coach everyone loves but no one wants to hire?
Bye Jacques….you’re not the one who should be leaving…..
