Marty’s Better

Jacques Lemaire, the only coach in Wild history will be returning for his 8th season with the team.  After the jump, some thoughts.

Jacques Lemaire, who learned his stylings in Montreal, gained notariety when he helped install the style that ruined hockey defensive style that the NJ Devils perfected on their way to three Stanley Cups.  He brought a similar style to Minnesota, leading the Wild to the West Final in 2002/2003, where they eventually lost to the Ducks in a sweep.

Honestly, I think this is a bad move for the Wild.  While Lemaire has had a positive effect on the team, just like in NJ, he may have worn out his welcome.  Looking down the Wild’s eight seasons in the NHL, all with Lemaire, they’ve missed the playoffs four times, lost in the first round twice, made one conference final, and lost one season due to the lockout.   That’s not very successful, and it hasn’t been a progression.  Missing the postseason the first two years as an expansion team is fine.  But to break through and make a conference final, only to flounder some more is unnacceptable.  If you’re a fan in Minnesota, you’re hoping that the Wild are following New Jersey’s blueprint.  The Devils had never made the postseason, then lost in a conference final in 1988.  From that point on, they missed the playoffs and lost in the first round four straight years before their success from the mid-nineties to the present day. 

To me, this team has too much ability for the results of the four seasons since their conference final trip to be acceptable.  Since making that run in late spring of ‘03, they missed the playoffs for two straight seasons, and have lost in the first round the last two.  Granted, last year they lost to the Ducks, who we all know won the Cup.  But this year, they won their division, and then followed it up with a less than stellar first round exit at the hands of the Avalanche. 

Looking down their roster, they have a very good mix of size and scoring ability.  Granted, no one’s going to confuse the Wild with  the Red Wings or Penguins, but they have the ability.  Marian Gaborik should be given more of a green light.  His 42 goals this year were a career high, which says something about the system in Minnesota.  This is exactly why I think Lemaire needed to go. 

As with most of my writings, it all comes back to New Jersey.  In 1995, the Devils reached the peak of their play under Lemaire’s system, winning the Stanley Cup.  But the Devils floundered the next few seasons and seemed to stop listening.  Their two most successful coaches since Lemaire, Pat Burns and Larry Robinson, both employed a system that allowed the Devils top two lines more freedom while John Madden’s line and the fourth line employed the defensive minded system.  This was never more successful than from 2000 to 2002 when Jason Arnott, Patrik Elias, and Petr Sykora skated circles around opposing teams’ defenses. 

The Wild need to start thinking about going this same route.  Gaborik has 100 point ability, yet his career high is 83, which he acheived this year.  I think if the Wild had gone and got another coach, they could get over that hump.  As I said before I like their pieces.  I like Derek Boogard, who brings a good amount of grit to the ice.  Niklas Backstrom has the ability to backstop this team wherever they might take him.  However, their inability to open it up and match the top two lines of the Ducks and Avs these last two years has led them to the golf course in mid April. 

The team’s regular season success is what I believe has allowed Lemaire to keep his job.  That, and the thoughts of where he got them in 2002/2003.  However, management needs to realize that this team is just at the foot of a hump, and in order to get over it, they need to make a move on the bench.  I honestly don’t see them as any better than a first or second round team until they start rolling two scoring lines that, well, score.  Great scoring lines force other teams to play defense.  Marian Gaborik shouldn’t have to worry about playing defense first, when that’s what the other team is looking to do to him.  Leave the “D” to the third and fourth lines.  I’m pretty sure the team will take some big steps from there.

Who should be a candidate?  Quite frankly, I’d look to the system that they looked to eight years ago.  Make a run at Larry Robinson.  I know John MacLean has been very worthy of a head coaching gig, but Lou Lamoriello doesn’t think he’s ready.  With Brent Sutter in NJ for the forseeable future, it’s reasonable to think that MacLean could be lured out of Newark.  If they want to make things interesting, they could make a run at Fat Pat Quinn, or if they REALLY want to make things interesting, how about Barry Melrose?  Just a thought.

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