SAINT PAUL, Minn. – Minnesota Wild coach Jacques Lemaire made it official this evening, calling his time behind the Wild bench over. In a statement to the Minneapolis Star Tribune’s Michael Russo, Lemaire said, “I think it’s time for the players to get a new coach and myself look at other stuff.”
Lemaire has been rumored to be considering retirement for some time now, with those closest to the team saying it was all but certain. Although Fox Sports North showed Lemaire’s entire post-game press conference, hoping for some news from Lemaire, he kept it close to the vest. When Kevin Gorg asked him where he was, Lemaire quipped “In Columbus, with you.” The news came after FSN went away from Wild coverage for the night, and for the season.
Lemaire finishes with a 293-255-55-53 record behind the Wild bench, having helped build the franchise from the ground up. He coached the team to a Western Conference Finals appearance in just the third year of the franchise’s existence, but since has had limited success, as the front office continued to give him a roster with little offensive talent.
Having instilled a team first attitude and a defensive style of play in Minnesota, Lemaire leaves the team to the next generation of bench management. Who that generation will be led by is a major question. Kevin Constantine of AHL affiliate Houston Aeros is the likely front runner, but that all depends on whether or not GM Doug Risebrough is to follow Lemaire out the door in Saint Paul. If Risebrough stays, Constantine has a inside track back to the NHL. However, if Risebrough is gone as well, the next candidate could be anyone.
This adds another page into the Wild’s history book, and leads into what is likely to be a turbulent offseason for the franchise. Lemaire is likely to have a true press conference early next week before leaving for his offseason home in Florida.
The author can be reached at bryan.reynolds@prohockeynews.com
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