Brian Rolston happy to be reunited with Jacques Lemaire

It might be difficult to find a Devil happier than Brian Rolston about Jacques Lemaire being brought back for a second go-around as the team's head coach.

Rolston enjoyed the most productive seasons of his career playing under Lemaire with the Minnesota Wild, topping the 30-goal mark in three consecutive season before signing with the Devils as an unrestricted free agent last summer.

"I'm thrilled," Rolston said. "I think he's one of the best coaches in the league. He's a very smart hockey guy. I've obvoulsly had my best years under him, so I'm thrilled about it."

Rolston, 36, didn't have nearly the success under Brent Sutter last season.  He strrugled after suffering a high-ankle sprain four games into the season and scored only 15 goals in 64 games.

Why does Rolston believe he has excelled under Lemaire?

"I don't know exactly, but I like his coaching style," he said. "He allows me to be the player that I am. One of the biggest things with Jacques -- I could tell you a million things about him, but one of the great things with Jacques is he doesn't try changing players. He doesn't expect every player to play the same way. He wants you to play to your strengths and he allows you to do that. A lot of times some coaches push you to do things you're not comfortable with. He just wants you to do what you do best and that's important."

Rolston hopes that being reunited with Lemaire will help him get back to being a 30-goal scorer again.

"I felt that I really didn't play much, as far as I was concerned, with Brent," Rolston said, "I didn't think I played terrible for the ice time that I got (15:06 per game during the regular season). We had a lot of great forwards on our team and it's tough to produce when you're playing 12 minutes a night. It's that simple. I think Brent is a good coach. I'm not going to say anything bad about Brent. I just think that it's pretty easy to see. I just need the opportunity and if I get the opportunity I will score 30 goals."

With Brian Gionta and John Madden moving on, it appears that Roslton will get more of an opportunity.

"I think they're both great hockey players for sure," he said. "Last year, when I got hurt, when I came back there was no breaking into the first two lines. Brent had his mindset made up and that was the way it was and I just tried to make due the best I possible I could. It was an extremely frustrating year for me and it gives me greater motivation for next year. I'll be prepared and ready to go."

Rolston said the perception about Lemaire holding back offensively-skilled players is inaccurate.

"I think he's going to allow us to do things offensively," he said. "You're not going to stop Zach Parise from scoring as he scores because he's that talented. I had some of my best offensive years under Jacques. Jacques wants you to be responsible defensively and I think we're going to be a better team. I think we relied on one line a lot and when it comes down to it and you get into the playoffs you just can't do that. You can't rely on one line, especially when you get into the playoffs, to get it done for you. He's a big believer in the whole team contributing and I didn't believe we had that last year."

Rolston said he has been working out hard this summer, but he has not started skating, yet.

"I've just been working out and getting prepared, getting my ankle back to where I need it to be," he said. "I'm doing great. I'm working hard this summer to make sure that I'm ready to go when training camp starts. I will be prepared and ready. I was very disappointed in my year last year. I expect more from myself and the organization expects more. So, I'm looking forward to the opportunity to play for Jacques again."

{The end}

Comments

[Devs]

Happy to see Rolston happy now hopefully he can ignite the offence

[Mike O.]

Is it October yet?

[brian]

i expect rolston to have a better year but tg i know you said earlier you were going to talk to lou any chance he mentioned anything on zajac's contract talks?

[NJDfan]

Well it seems the light is finally starting to shine again :)

I hope Rolston has his best year as a player yet next season and I think we are going to be alot better than most of the fans on this board seem to think.

Thanks for your hard work TG. You made this fan alot happier today :)

GO DEVILS!

[Jim B]

I am now getting very excited for the start of the season. I think Lemaire is a great coach, and we have some young guys coming in to contribute next year, so it will be an intriguing season.

[Xander Crews]

Ive said it a billion times in these blogs... Rolstons number 1 problem is his confidence and always has been.

Things are looking good when hes this happy and says things like "i will score 30 goals".

[Zorin]

XC...what's he gonna say? He already hated on one coach during his return to NJ. Can't have that again, now can we. I don't care if he <3 JL or hates his guts; just score!

[Devs]

Hopefully we resign Zajac and Shanny then we could try a trade later on the offseason or earlier next season and we are in pretty good shape.

[Jim B]

@ Xander

I agree, I think his confidence went down the tubes after his injury, and it sounds like his lack of ice time also had an effect on his mind set. I understand how that can effect someone, but someone with Rolston's experience should not have these problems at this point in his career.

[kstatik]

With potential offence coming from Parise, good for *at least* 30 goals, Rolston (assuming he stays
healthy and gets the minutes he says he needs) 30 goals, Langs getting AT LEAST 20 goals, Zajac with
another 20, Clarkson expected to get more minutes; 20-25 goals...

We might not have as much problem scoring as people are saying... even WITH Lemaire! ;) (J/k...)

[devilstown]

Great, apparently Lemaire has some effect on Rolston's AIM !!

[Noam N. Kogen]

NJD Fan:

I hope you're right about Rolston. Lemaire, I thought, held back and retarded the progress of younger Devils his first time around, such as Niedermayer, Elias, Sykora to name a few.

Lemaire will improve the defense. He needs a second line center and needs to limit Martin Brodeur's games played some during the season.

Clearly Lemaire will be an improvement over that phony baloney deserter, Brent Sutter. Sutter will NEVER WIN ANYTHING as a head coach in the NHL.

[Neil S]

Devilstown, confidence is everything to a hockey player. If Rolston wasn't feeling good about his ice time, about his role, that can weigh heavily and all of a sudden you try too hard, you white knuckle your stick, you shoot too hard and end up missing the net. I guarentee a relaxed, healthy and happy Rolston plays much better next season.

[devilstown]

GUARANTEE, NEIL, can I get that in writing. It's not like I'm not rooting for him. I'm just a bit skeptical,age/injury/etc, perhaps it's the whole 80 second thing in the back/front/side of my mind?

[Topshlf]

Rolston speaks the truth.....

"I think we relied on one line a lot and when it comes down to it and you get into the playoffs you just can't do that. You can't rely on one line, especially when you get into the playoffs, to get it done for you."

"Last year, when I got hurt, when I came back there was no breaking into the first two lines. Brent had his mindset made up and that was the way it was and I just tried to make due the best I possible I could. It was an extremely frustrating year for me and it gives me greater motivation for next year."

I am so glad that Sutter is gone. What a moron!

[devilstown]

Topshif - He sure looked smart when we were winning all those games without Marty or Rolston. Sports sure has a funny way of making you go from GENIUS to MORON! All it takes is a slapshot under the goalie's armpit.

[Captain Fun]

Many of my Devil fan friends were very hard on Rolston last year. I was not pleased but totally agree with him. He is a top 6 forward for sure and was signed to center elias. He was NOT given a fair opportunity to play any key roles outside of special teams. I am confident that he will excel next year. Put him at rw with 26 at LW and go outside the organization for a center.

[JerryG]

Rolston says: "Jacques wants you to be responsible defensively..."

Certainly this was an area where we were lacking a good portion of last season. If Lemaire brings nothing else to the table but can instill a sense of defensive responsibility in the team, we're way ahead of where we were!

I too was initially skeptical a couple of weeks ago when the rumors started to fly, but I like what I am hearing and reading now.

[restlessknight]

Besides Rolston I see Elias as another that should be more comfortable under Lemaire. He strikes me as the type to excel when theres more communication, which the past few coaches weren't known for.

[modnarm]

Now i'm 90% sure we're getting that 2nd line center and i WOULD NOT be surprised if any of our BIG young forwards will be packaged with picks. After reading Lemaire's responses, what Lou said, and this with Rolston.. We will see Elias-center-Rolston

Rolston won't be with Parise and Zajac.. Langs is a fine player and works well with those 2. We just need that 2nd line center to tie the Canon with the skilled stick

3rd line...
Clarkson-Zubrus-Bergfors
Pando/PL3-Pelley-Pikanerinan

I know CLarkson is a RW but i think hes played LW b4. I'd much rather move his position than a rookie just breaking into the NHL.

Unless a trade with Pando is made, i doubt Shanny will be back.

Its also no secret that in a few years (when Rolston's contract is up) both He and Elias will either be resigned and play on the 3rd line, or simply let go, but i think one or both of them will stay and maybe play a less offensive role. Tedenby-Josefson-Bergfors/Halischuk is our future 2nd line in 2012 baby. The future is bright. Maybe Rolston will be let go when his contract is done and we'll see Elias-center-Clarkson on the 3rd line. I'd be up for that.

[mikeP]

i disagree, I think Lou is only going to resign Shanny, and then let the kids play. No one else will be brought in that might take a spot away from the rookies. Bergfors, Pikkarainen, Pelley, PLx3, Corrente, possibly Frazee and Cormier, and Eckford, are all going to get very good looks in the camp. I wouldn't at all be surprised to see Cormier play on the 4th line for the 1st 9 games of the season, and then get sent back to the "Q" and then Pelley would take over

[Ben]

ok Brian-
We've heard enough complaining about you not getting enough playing time this year. Now you better go out and score 30 goals.