Zach Parise is well aware of his new head coach's reputation for being a defensive-minded coach.
Still, the Devils left wing, who scored a career-high 45 goals last season under Brent Sutter, also saw how Marian Gaborik scored 42 goals in 2007-08 and scored at least 30 four other times while playing for Jacques Lemaire in Minnesota. (Gaborik had 38 goals in 65 games in 2005-06 and 30 in 48 games in 2006-07).
So, Parise believes he will have the same opportunities to excel offensively as he had under Sutter.
"You look at a guy like Gaborik in Minnesota, it looked like he always did pretty well," Parise said. "He always put up good numbers there. So, I don't think anybody is going to be held back by any means. I don't think anybody is going to be held back from their strength. I just have a hard time believing that would be the way it is. Just looking at a guy like Gaborik, he scored 40-something goals in a year. So, hopefully, the offense will still be there."
The Wild struggled offensively when Gaborik was sidelined for most of 2008-09 following hip surgery, which led to the team tightening up even more offensively. But Parise believes that Lemaire will do his best to utilize the skiilled offensive players the Devils have.
"You coach the team you have and the players you have," Parise said. "If you don't have a lot of scorers, you've got to play your strengths and the way you need to play to win games. Whether that means locking it down and trying to win 1-0, at the end of the day you've got to win games. But I think we have a lot of offense. We have a lot of scoring, guys that can score, and that's our strength. So, I just don't see any of that changing."
Parise believes it is important that Devils continue to play the aggressive forecheck that Sutter installed during his two years with the team.
"I think the aggressive way is the way to play," Parise said. "When we started to play more passive last year toward the end of the season that's when we started not to play as well. If you look at the teams that made if far this year, they all play an aggressive style of hockey and I just hope that we won't lose that because I think we were a pretty good hockey team when we were playing that way."
Parise experienced it first hand the defensive system Lemaire used in Minnesota when playing against the Wild.
"It's tough to say when you've never played for him," Parise said. "From playing against them, I knew how defensive they were in Minnesota. But (Brian) Rolston played for him for a few years and said he's the best coach he's ever had. Obviously, Lou did his research and knows what's best for us."
Parise said he read the speculation that Lemaire would be the head coach in newspapers, "so I wasn't really surprised."
"From what everyone was saying, it kind of pointed in that direction," he said.
Love that Kid ;)
Posted by: TGisOurMainManForDevilsNews | July 13, 2009 at 04:59 PM
Added Parise, "Of course I want to play an aggressive style forecheck. Do you think I'll get offers for 8 Years/7.5m if I only average 25 goals a season until I'm a free agent?"
Posted by: Alz | July 13, 2009 at 05:00 PM
the offense will be fine. i dont think lemaire will change anything zzpops does. plus, he knows what rolston is capable of and i am sure will try to maximize him.
on the blue line, that's where i'm concerned. other than bryce, we dont have any big stay at homes lemaire seems to like.
Posted by: SonicDude | July 13, 2009 at 05:08 PM
it will be very interesting to hear what rolston has to say. tg awesome job as always
Posted by: brian | July 13, 2009 at 05:22 PM
TG thanks for all your hard work and keeping us so up to date on everything. We are very lucky to have the access to the Devils that you provide!
Posted by: Boston Mike | July 13, 2009 at 05:32 PM
Offensive firepower/creativeness without sacrificing defensive responsibilities. I think that's what Lemaire wants after all, and that's a good thing.
Posted by: Peter | July 13, 2009 at 05:36 PM
"You look at a guy like Gaborik in Minnesota, it looked like he always did pretty well,"
hahaha,
but
Gaborik >>>>>>>>>>>>>> Parise
Posted by: xpapertiger | July 13, 2009 at 05:39 PM
How about Brian Rolston, 3 consecutive 30+ goal seasons. Zach Parise > Brian Rolston.
Posted by: Neil S | July 13, 2009 at 05:41 PM
I'm a little iffy on Lemaire, but I think overall he was the best choice. I mean this guy seems eager to come back to Jersey and show the league what he can do with an elite team again. He has the solid relationship with Lou and a few of the players already. Players that have worked under him have had nothing but good things to say. I remember hearing Daneyko say something along the lines of "I learned more in one year under Lemaire than I had learned in my entire career prior to that". When we have young d-men like Oduya and Greene, it makes me feel a little better. I think Oduya is gunna have a career year and I also think Greene is gunna step it up and stay in the top 6. All that said, we still need that center.
Posted by: Martysbetter86 | July 13, 2009 at 05:43 PM
I'm going to start selling "Lemaire" jerseys - number 95. Anyone wanna buy one?
Posted by: Maxwell | July 13, 2009 at 05:43 PM
Uh, yeah... ok Ranger fan!
I'd rather have the Zach-Attack, thankyouverymuch.
Posted by: kstatik | July 13, 2009 at 05:44 PM
I'm waiting to hear back from Rolston.
Posted by: TG | July 13, 2009 at 05:52 PM
im Wild fan. i h8 Rags XDD
Posted by: xpapertiger | July 13, 2009 at 05:56 PM
Lemaire looked one a while ago:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGJ80uFIeug
Posted by: Maxwell | July 13, 2009 at 05:56 PM
Well Wild fan, Parise plays defense better than most defensemen.... so the fact that he can also
rattle off 45g and 49a makes him more valuable to me than Mr. Injured Sniper.
Parise >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Gaborik.
And when Gabby gets injured 10-15 games into the season, Zach will still be rattling off points,
while being reliable in his own end... yup. :P
Posted by: kstatik | July 13, 2009 at 06:05 PM
Zach-
all I can say is, I hope your right.
Posted by: Ben | July 14, 2009 at 10:29 AM