A visitor told Minnesota Wild president Doug Risebrough that the Sporting News had predicted Jacques Lemaire will be the 2007-2008 Coach of the Year in the NHL. Risebrough said with a smile that he’s picking Lemaire, too.
The 62-year-old Lemaire started his seventh season last week as the only coach of the Wild in franchise history. Prior to coming here, Lemaire has been honored as NHL Coach of the Year (Jack Adams Award) while working for New Jersey and also won the award in 2003 with the Wild. His reputation as one of the league’s best coaches was established long ago and enhanced by the Wild’s performance last season (most points in franchise history), and the prospect of a breakout season that could see Minnesota go deep into the Stanley Cup playoffs next spring.
Risebrough was asked what he sees in Lemaire and what prompts a publication like Sporting News to think the former Montreal Canadien player and coach is so capable. “There’s two things that standout for me,” Risebrough said. “First of all, he’s an extremely bright guy, and not just in his knowledge of hockey but in life. … He’s very intellectual… able to articulate his points to the players, to adjust to a game plan. He’s quick.
“The other (second) thing I would say is he has a great feel for the players. Meaning it’s kind of a combination of his motivation and a combination of his experience. He’s obviously motivated to try and improve them individually, improve them within the team. …Because he thinks like a player, this makes sense to do it this way, because a player would think about doing it this way. …
“I’ve seen a lot of people who are intuitive and intellectual, but not many people that are both. And Jacques, I don’t know why and when he knows when to do it, but he can be very intuitive. You’ll ask him why did you do that and he’ll say, ‘I don’t know why, it just felt right.’ Then the next time you’ll ask him about something else and you’ll get a long answer that’s been very analytical. I’ve seen people that have been successful that are just intuitive and I’ve seen people that have been successful that are just intellectual. …I don’t think I’ve ever met anybody else other than Jacques that’s both. …”
Risebrough was asked how Lemaire, even with his 12-year career as a player for the Montreal Canadiens, and 13 years as an NHL head coach, has improved while directing the Wild since 2000. Risebrough suggested that Lemaire “is a lot more comfortable” now than he used to be in talking hockey with the media. Risebrough said people comment that they like Lemaire’s presentation during his post-game radio news conferences. Lemaire’s analytical, thoughtful style has created a status of respect among many listeners.
Then Risebrough made a second point about his coach. “I thought when I first started with Jacque he was going to be less flexible,” he said. “Today he’s a very flexible guy. I think he was probably more flexible than I anticipated but I’ve noticed that he’s driven with a lot of flexibility. He’ll do whatever it takes to figure out what makes it work. He’s a good listener. … He includes people. … He’s not driven with just, ‘we gotta do it this way and it’s the only way.’ …”