With Montreal, the Devils and Minnesota, Jacques Lemaire earned a reputation as as defensive coach. So, on the day Lemaire was hired to return to the Devils for a second stint as their head coach, there were immediate questions about whether the team would become a more conservative offensive team after two seasons in which Brent Sutter pushed the team to be more aggressive on the forecheck while still being solid defensively.
Lemaire was asked if the Devils will be a more offensive team than the teams he's had in the past.
"The teams I used to have? Probably," he said. "You look at what they did last year. They did great. They were solid defensively and offensively and that's a goal I want ot have."
Another goal Lemaire has is to "do as much as we can in the playoffs."
Lemaire was asked specifically about Zach Parise, who emerged as an offensive star in his two years under Brent Sutter. Will Parise be allowed to continue to play the same way under Lemaire?
"I don't know what will be put in (sytematically) that is going to stop any of the players to perform at their best," Lemaire said. "I know Parise a little bit just from watching his games. He's a kid that works offensively and he works defensively. And I know that I had other players that were more focused on offense and I know how I worked with these players. I showed they could work offensively, but put at least one player who is really good defensively on his line, so he can excel offensively.
"So, I'm not the coach that will stop any of the guys to (be able to) perform, to do what their good at and what they excel at."
Lemaire was also asked about Brian Rolston, who had three consecutive 30-goal seasons under Lemaire in Minnesota before signing with the Devils last summer. Rolston struggled last season under Sutter, however, and had just 15 goals and 17 assists in 64 games (he missed 18 with a high-ankle sprain).
"Brian is a good shooter," Lemaire said. "He's a guy that stays in shape pretty well and he's a guy that has to be put in the right situation. I'm not saying that Brent didn't do this because I thought he did a tremendous job with the team. But (Rolston) is a guy that we have to stay close to him. We have to talk to him and to demand a little more and that's my intention. That's what I did when he was in Minny and we'll try to repeat what he did there."
How is Lemaire different as coach now than when he left 11 years ago?
"I always felt that I understand the players and trying to find their needs," he said. "But, I think with the time maybe it's the team that demands that. I talk more and more with the players. In the old days, I guess you were giving restrictions to the players and let them go for a long time. I think right now a player needs the coaching staff to be close to them, so they can perform at their best, see what their needs are. This is a thing that has changed in me and, you know, the game (has changed). At a time, we had more of a defensive crew and you're going on and you're teaching more defense than offense because you feel that you can win games. And now with times and with the type of players that we have there is a look offense, there's a look for trying to create more.
"I guess every coach is pretty much the same. We're trying to get the best game possible, the best action game as possible for the fans."
Lemaire said the chance to work with Lamoriello again was an important factor in his decision.
"I like to work for a person that I know well and I think I know Lou very well," Lemaire said. "I know how he works, what he wants, what he likes and what he dislikes. Also, you look at the team. The team is very stable. You look at the past years. It's a team that's doing very good. I know in the playoffs the last few years it's been a little tougher, but that will be a goal that all of the coaching staff will have. Also, thes supporters. I had a great time here in New Jersey in the '90s and I have just great memories and I'll try to get some more.
Lemaire believes coming back to the Devils gives him a chance to win the Stanley Cup again.
"I've been 15 years coaching and there's not a lot of things as a coach when you've been involved 15 years," he said. "You're looking at a team. You want to have a chance to win the Cup. There's no doubt about that. Especially in my situation, this would be a great thing to have a chance. Don't forget there are 30 teams that are talking exactly the same. That's what they want: a chance to win the Cup. And I want to be part of this and if there's a chance I would love to get another one."
Other things Lemaire discussed today:
On being approached about the job by Lou Lamoriello.
"Lou approached me some time before the draft and because he said that he was really busy (then), he would call me back. Then, he called me back a week later."
On his thoughts about how many games Martin Brodeur will start and how much he rests:
"All of that will depend upon how he feels, how things are going, how he plays, how the other goalie will play. So, we'll try to find a good standard there that he's happy and the other goalie happy."
On bringing along Mario Tremblay as his assistant and his role with the team:
"He's be in charge of the defense behind the bench. Why did I bring him? I've been nine years with him and I think he's a great complement of myself. He's a guy (who is) very determined, works hard, is in shape and he's fun for the players. And he knows how to deal with them in practices when he has to train players. He knows how to manage that situation very well."
On whether he looked at the team prior to July 1 to see how certain players might fit into the way he wants to play:
"Not really because Sutter was there at that time. There was no need for me to look at anything. They had other stuff in mind they were working on. It was only after that, when I saw that he was leaving and not even then. It was when Lou called me that I started to look at the team."
On what he looked at when he did start studying the team:
"Just to look at the team overall, look at what they did last year: their penalty kill, their power play, their offense, the players that were minus (defensively). All different stuff. Who played with who? And I had some games here (on video) that I looked at just to get a good feel. What I see is a good offense, good skills. I see defensemen (who are) very mobile and can bring the puck out of the zone well. They have good hockey sense. So, I think it will be exciting to work with these people."
***
That's all of the Lemaire comments from today. I'm working on getting player reaction and hope to talk with Lamoriello again as well.
Let him trap the balls out of the NHL...if Patty and Zach are scoring 50 and Rolston is putting in the 30 from yesteryear, I'm all for it.
Posted by: Baggy Spandex | July 13, 2009 at 02:40 PM
lol the NHL wont be prepared for the Devils... We actually have a coach that loves it here, he is more one on one with the players then Sutter had ever been. And to boot Scott Stevens will be more hands on this year... I say it does not matter how the devils place on defense, they will over achieve even more then in past years.
Posted by: HockeymanNJD | July 13, 2009 at 02:47 PM
welcome back Jacques!
you've done a lot for this franchise in the past and will hopefully do a lot more in the future!
best of luck to our new coach :-)
Posted by: Tull | July 13, 2009 at 02:50 PM
TG-Were any questions focused on the current state of the roster and what Lemaire thought of the infusion of younger players?
Posted by: Tom | July 13, 2009 at 02:51 PM
Love what I'm hearing so far, Lemaire sounds like a coach who is hungry and has a GM that is giving him something to work with, which he never really had in Minnesota. As one Wild fan put it "Lemaire was given a pile of crap every in Minnesota and told to make it smell like a bouquet of flowers." Even if the top lines turned out to be Elias-Zubrus-Rolston and the ZZPops line, that's more than Lemaire ever had in Minny.
Posted by: Neil S | July 13, 2009 at 02:51 PM
Go get them Jacques...Bring another Cup to NJ!
Posted by: Tom G | July 13, 2009 at 02:52 PM
1995 Repeat!
Posted by: Maxwell | July 13, 2009 at 02:53 PM
and thanks for the lickity-split interview TG!
I like what Jacques is saying, i feel better already... he's such a professional. It's good to have a coach that's excited about the job, the team and the mgmt.
A second line center & i'll be excited too! J/K ;)
Posted by: Tull | July 13, 2009 at 02:53 PM
If Parise scores 20G and we win a Cup, will any of you really care?
Posted by: Jason | July 13, 2009 at 02:54 PM
"Lemaire wants Devils to be good offensively and defensively."
Uhhh, you may as well have said, "Lemaire wants Devils to win games instead of lose games."
Posted by: dougiebrown | July 13, 2009 at 02:55 PM
Maybe I've missed something but I still think we need a few players. We lost some good ones and have not signed anyone worthwhile.
Is there anyone in Lowell worth bringng up?
Posted by: Tom G | July 13, 2009 at 02:58 PM
Already the interviews are ten times better than with our old friend Mumbles.
Posted by: DH | July 13, 2009 at 02:59 PM
Hopefully Lemaire gets the best out of the young guys. But hopefully we have more young guys on the team contributing.
Posted by: Falcone | July 13, 2009 at 03:00 PM
young guys as in guys that weren't on the team in the past.
Posted by: Falcone | July 13, 2009 at 03:01 PM
I have this much to say, I like this hiring ALOT, i think it will be a good thing for the team and for the Development of our younger players who we all agree need to get some time in.
On all the other threads all i read is complaining, and Parise's leaving and were gonna be boring because we trap blah blah blah..... MOST TEAMS TRAP IN THE LEAGUE TODAY, and we used a version of the trap last year too in the playoffs, The Wings and the Pens are trapping teams, they WIN and SCORE goals, so take your lack of understanding about the trap and go to a library and read about it. Any coach is only as good as the players that he is given to work with it really is THAT SIMPLE.
One more thing, when the team is headed for a playoff spot in February, and all the guys who are complaining now are talking about how great a move this is, and Lemaire is great, just bring your salt to the boards to eat your words..... Oh and around that time i expect to read the usual, LOU MUST GO! he did not trade Zubrus for Ovechkin, he is terrible and past his prime he must go..... some people need to watch the sport BEFORE they speak.
Posted by: Pearl Jammed | July 13, 2009 at 03:01 PM
rly hope hes just not saying that
Posted by: richer#44 | July 13, 2009 at 03:01 PM
positive devils comments!!Finally!!!
Posted by: HF | July 13, 2009 at 03:02 PM
Tom- you're completely correct. I to have yet to understand why the hell we haven't gotten anybody good this offseason and still expect to be on top. On Jaques, I like his attitude, but the idea of putting a very good defensive person with with a good offensive person makes no sense. Does that mean play pandolfo with parise? Every player should have responsibility on both sides. I'm still worried that he's to defensive minded, because he doesn't know any other way to coach!
Posted by: Ben | July 13, 2009 at 03:02 PM
no ben it means play Langenbrunner with parise... Jamie is GREAT defensively....
Posted by: Pearl Jammed | July 13, 2009 at 03:05 PM
we are saved!
Posted by: Bill | July 13, 2009 at 03:07 PM
Well said Pearl Jammed... How quick people foget.. "BORING, SO CALLED HOCKEY".. Brought us 4 trips to the Stanley Cup 5 eastern Conf. Finals and OH Yeah.. 3 BIG STANLEY CUP RINGS.. So all you doubters .. STAY HOME.. We will celebrate without you...
Posted by: Sauce from the Swamp | July 13, 2009 at 03:07 PM
PJ-Right on! I go on vacation for a few weeks and all the posts (besides the ones trading Zubrus for the moon) are giving up on the season before it started. Insane.
PS-Michael Westin wears Jack Bauer Pajamas!
Posted by: Tom | July 13, 2009 at 03:08 PM
well said Pearl Jammed
Posted by: HF | July 13, 2009 at 03:08 PM
First of all I could not be happier to hear that Scott Stevens is working with the young D men. You could not ask for a better coach. Second I am extremely pleased that John Maclean is still with the organization. Being the head coach in Lowell will do him nothing but good. He is a good guy and that goes for Stevens too.
Jacque Lemaire might work again. I still have mixed feelings because I believe we are missing a player or too. Time will tell.
Posted by: Bill | July 13, 2009 at 03:09 PM
Welcome back Lemaire. Now lets get some UFA's. Skoula, Tanguay and Sykora (sic) are still out there. Plus, singing Shanny is a no brainer. And if they sign Satan, they'd sell a ton of jerseys! Just give him #66 then send him right to Lowell. That's a joke, in case you're a Ranger fan and can't grasp such things.
Posted by: Grofe | July 13, 2009 at 03:10 PM