Author: David Shama

It’s likely Jacques Lemaire will resign as the Minnesota Wild’s coach after this season, according to a knowledgeable NHL source who spoke to Sports Headliners on condition of anonymity.  “Everybody I talk to thinks there’s a good chance he will leave,” the source said.

Lemaire, who has coached the Wild since the franchise’s first season in 2000, seems more frustrated than in the past.  “He’s never before been so openly critical of players,” the source said. “His frustration is showing through.”

Lemaire coached two other NHL teams before taking over the expansion Wild whom he has directed to three playoff appearances. “His history is, when he doesn’t feel comfortable he just leaves,” said the NHL insider who has pro hockey front office and coaching experience.

The Wild are struggling this season after winning the Northwest Division last year. Goal scoring has been an ongoing frustration and so too has the absence of injured All-Star Marian Gaborik who has played in only six games.

The Wild’s record is 27-22-3 with 57 points. The team is tied with Columbus for eighth place in the eight team playoff race in the Western Conference.  There’s speculation as to whether the team can make the playoffs but the source said a deep post season run could change Lemaire’s mind about next season.

He doesn’t doubt the possibility, referring to Lemaire as an “amazing” coach who can revitalize teams.  The NHL insider said many players around the league regard Lemaire as the best coach because he instills confidence and can sometimes convince players to master the subtleties of defensive play.

Even though he highly regards Lemaire, he thinks it’s probably best that after eight seasons he moves on, bringing change with a new coach.  The source said most coaches are tuned out by their players after five years but Lemaire has had a much longer run because of his reputation and ability.

Who would replace Lemaire? The source said he doesn’t know, nor does he have a feel for how much input owner Craig Leipold will have in the decision.  It’s known that Leipold values input from the fans and many want a Wild team with more offense.

As for Lemaire’s future, the NHL insider thinks the 63-year-old will not coach again.  He said Lemaire has other interests besides hockey and will have no problem walking away from the game.

Kevin Constantine, head coach of the Wild’s Houston farm team, will likely have his name mentioned if Lemaire leaves Minnesota.  He favors a defensive style, too.

Starting on February 27, the Wild play 14 of its 18 games on the road through the end of March.

A benefit for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and Scott LeDoux will be held on Friday, April 10 at Champions Event Center in Elko.  LeDoux, 60, one of the most prominent Minnesota boxers ever, recently confirmed he has the disease.  Former Vikings linebacker Wally Hilgenberg died from ALS and LeDoux is using Hilgenberg’s walker.  The former lead singers for Survivor, Santana and Totto will perform at the benefit, and a video tribute to LeDoux will be shown.  More at https://elko-speedway1.ticketleap.com/Rock-for-ALS-04-10-2009-07-00.

It’s worth taking seriously rumors Brett Favre could leave the Jets and quarterback the Vikings next year.  Favre undoubtedly can see the potential here and his role in filling the quarterback need.  Owner Zygi Wilf has shown he will spend money on personnel.

Twins pitchers and catchers report to spring training on Sunday with the major question whether Joe Mauer will be there and ready to workout next week.

Sid Hartman, talking on radio and TV this week, described steroid confessor Alex Rodriguez as a good person, noting that A-Rod responds to Hartman’s requests for charity items.

Glen Mason, the former Gophers coach, talking on the Big Ten Network last week to ex-Indiana coach Jerry DiNardo about Penn State’s Joe Paterno: “Can you imagine recruiting at 82 years old?  Who says recruiting is a young man’s game?”

Scout.com national recruiting authority Allen Trieu said on the network last week that Gophers recruit Kenneth Watkins, a defensive back from Detroit who was injured during his junior year, could be a “steal” for Minnesota.

The rebuilding Indiana basketball program signed more players (six) to letters of intent than any Big Ten school during the early signing period last fall.  The Hoosiers, 1-10 in the Big Ten, lost to the Gophers last night.

U sports historian Dana Marshall noted via e-mail that it was the Sporting News All-American team Trent Tucker was included on in 1982, a five-man group, not multiple teams. He also wrote that former Gopher Whitey Skoog is credited with being an early developer of the jump shot.  At the Indiana game Tucker’s jersey was retired along with four others previously recognized, Jim Brewer, Lou Hudson, Kevin McHale and Mychal Thompson.  Skoog, twice an All-American in the early 1950s, will be similarly honored at the Northwestern game on February 22.

The Wolves’ leadership can’t say it this way but the team wasn’t going to make the playoffs even with center Al Jefferson, and losing him will position the franchise much better in the draft lottery for next spring.  The team needs impact players at small forward and point guard, and maybe center if Nikola Petovic doesn’t come here from Europe and excel.

The 2009 Mr. Basketball winner will be announced after the boys high school tournament.  There will not be a banquet as in past years.

Augsburg senior forward Nate Alm had double-doubles in points and rebounds during all three games last week.  He totaled 55 points with 38 rebounds, and is the Co-MIAC Basketball Player of the Week along with Carleton senior forward Zach Johnson, the league’s leading scorer at 23.9 points per game as of Monday.  He scored 36, 23 and 24 points last week while coming within 28 points of the school’s all-time individual scoring record of 1,967.