The Minnesota Wild hired Jacques Lemaire to be their first ever head coach in 2000. In his first three years as the head coach of that team, he gave it credibility as it overachieved with less talent.
Lemaire's best moment with the Wild came in 2003, when he led them to the Western Conference Finals. The Wild upset a couple of superior teams in the Avalanche and the Canucks in Game 7.
After the lockout in the 2004-2005 season, the Wild did not do much. They missed the playoffs in 2006 and they lost in the first round in 2007 and 2008.
Lemaire lost credibility with the fans. The Wild was sold to then-Predators owner Craig Leipold. Leipold sensed the fans grew disenchanted with the Wild.
Changes were coming, and Lemaire knew it. He resigned after the Wild's final game of the season last year. Soon after that, Wild general manager Doug Reisbrough was fired.
Lemaire bounced back nicely when he was hired by the New Jersey Devils last July. The Devils needed a coach after Brent Sutter bailed out on them.
Devils boss Lou Lamoriello is not the type that likes to lose often, which is why he went with a safe choice rath ...
Read Full Article at Bleacher Report - NHL
Article written by Leslie Monteiro
New Jersey Devils’ Jacques Lemaire: Sad Ending for Him
April 26th, 2010 by Leslie Monteiro Leave a reply »
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