Jacques Lemaire says Devils will go for "a little more offense" than under Brent Sutter

The common theory going around now that Jacques Lemaire is back as head coach is that the Devils will go back to being a boring, trapping, defensive-minded team that sits back and tries to win, 1-0.

Last season under Brent Sutter, the Devils became a more aggressive forechecking team and, at times, an entertaining offensive team as well. But, will all of those changes be undone when Lemaire takes the ice with the Devils for their first practice of training camp on Sunday morning?

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Lemaire knows his reputation and what people are saying. When I asked him about it, his answer was kind of surprising.

"It’s funny,” Lemaire told me. “When I looked at the tape, I felt the team played even more defensive than my team (in Minnesota). The thing is people really don’t understand what’s going on in the game. I’ll explain it to you this way: When our players have the puck, I want to be as offensive as possible. And when we don’t have the puck, I want to be as tight defensively as possible.

 

"So, it means that if we can go, we’ve got to go, we’ve got to go offense and I want everyone to go offense. But, as soon as we lose control of the puck, now you’ve go to think defense, which is normal. In the past, 10, 15, 20 years ago, it didn’t matter where you were on the ice. You could just chase the puck everywhere, never mind position, and if your team was decent, you were doing well because the guys were not as good as today.

 

“Today the guys are so good, the players are so good, the defensemen are so mobile. They’re so good offensively and defensively. They’re big. They’re quick. They’re fast. They’re strong. All of that makes the game different. And that’s why you can’t be out of position. You’ve got to be in position so you’re effective.”

So, Lemaire doesn't plan to change much from what the Devils were doing under Sutter. If anything, he say he wants them to be more offensive-minded in some situations, but also to maintain the defensive standard they achieved under Sutter.

Of course, we'll have to wait to see how it plays out on the ice.

"I think it will be fairly similar because they were playing a good game defensively and a good game offensively," Lemaire said. "When we have the puck, we might try to [play] a little style differently when we get puck, a little more offense in a way there. But when don’t have the puck, I hope that we’re going to play as good as they were playing. They were playing tight in the D-zone.”

Comments

[John Fischer]

In a word, WOW. I'm honestly surprised. Pleased, but really surprised!

[Xander Crews]

Yep sounds to me like were going back to being a defensive hockey team and hes trying to act like ti not happening. Quotes like 'as soon as we lose control we all have to get on D' and 'i think we need to be more offensive IN CERTAIN SITUATIONS' make it seem like this is classic trapping Lemaire. Forget any aggressive forecheck since as soon as the puck isnt on our stick every have immediately start thinking defense.

He doesnt want offense and hes just trying to avoid saying that.

[YEAHw/e]

wrong

[A Local Fan]

Sounds boring. You guys need a coach like Torts who believes in forechecking and offense. Safe is Death!

[John Fischer]

I think the last quote refutes that theory in that he specifically referenced the 2008-09 Devils under Sutter, who did not trap and implemented a pretty aggressive forecheck at times as well.

[StvBroDan]

Safe is death? and Three Cups
Jacques sounds like he knows the new NHL and will play it like it needs to be played. Very Surprised

[devilsfan]

a leopard doesn't change his spots, unfortunately.

[Pearl Jammed]

Sutter definitely did use the trap at times, and to suggest that he did not is just incorrect.

Lemaire is 100% correct, most people DON'T know what they are watching, and the fact remains that if you want to win in this league you need to be able to "trap" just ask Detroit and Pittsburgh, as they were both trapping teams, especially in the playoffs. its kind of silly to suggest that the trap isn't successful when every team employs a trap like system especially when protecting a lead late. Anyone who says their team doesn't use the trap doesn't know what they are talking about. And just because its called a different name (left wing lock ETC...) does not mean it still isn't a trapping system. And i think Lemaire will try to be more offensive this coming season. If you look at the tools he had in minnesota the last few years the only 20-30 goal or better scorers he has ever had were Gaborik, Rolston, and Andrew Brunette a couple of times. This Devils team has the potential to have at least 5 and potentially as many as 7 20-30 goal scorers on the roster this year with Parise, Elias, Rolston, Langenbrunner, Zajac, Clarkson, and possibly Bergfors as well. I am not suggesting that all of the above will be 20-30 goal guys but certainly 5 of them should be barring injury, and with a natural progression of improvement from guys like Clarkson and possibly Bergfors it stands to reason that it could be possible. That said Lemaire has much better tools to use here in New Jersey. You can't ask a carpenter to build a house with a tube of caulk, plywood and scotch tape.

[Pearl Jammed]

Don't scratch the poison ivy.....

[aarrgghhhh]

what a bunch of jibber-jabber to basically admit you're going to play Julienball.

forechecking teams don't think defense when they don't have the puck. that's why they forecheck.

[Pat D]

You have to red between the lines, Lemaire said "And when we don’t have the puck, I want to be as tight defensively as possible." To me that means that when we don't have the puck we aren't going to forecheck as hard as we did under Sutter.

[Craigwell]

Some people are hearing what they want to hear, or interpreting things in a way that supports their take on things.

Bottom line, wait until we're 20 games in before you decide what Lemaire is or isn't doing, or what needs to be done.

[TG]

The skepticism is understandable. As I said, we'll have to see how it plays out on the ice.

But, as well as the Devils played defensively for the most part last season, there are some things they need to improve on that cost them in the playoffs. One of them, which Lemaire mentioned earlier this week, was the defensemen's play around the net.

Another one I've noticed is there are some smarter decisions that can be made with and without the puck late in games when you're leading or tied. I thought that was a weakness under Sutter and that also hurt them in the playoffs (including Game 7 against Carolina).

[YEAHw/e]

Forechecking is a type of defence! lol, when your not on offense theres only one option left and its called defense. if a team is forechecking, they are implementing an aggresive defense in order to create a turnover in the offenseive zone, thus creating offense. simple as that

[Craigwell]

see? you can interpret things any number of ways, fellas. Talk is cheap, and fun too.

[Rick C.]

As far as I can tell, he basically didn't say anything new or different. TG, are you sure it wasn't Lou who did the interview? They look kind of similar.

[Philly Devil]

HEY ALF:

Torts did a relal "exciting" job last year. Preaching discipline and then going after a Caps fan really showed the troops how to play the game. Can't wait to see your team and it's "new chemistry." By December you'll be singing "God Save The Queen" with your Henny sweater on.

As far as Jaques, I am more than fine with him as a coach. Our players need to be smarter with the puck and without the puck.

[Craigwell]

yeah Torts has been great laughter material for me for years now, probably since he cursed at Brooks in the round the Devils beat them in 2007.

I'm a big fan of his, hope he stays with the Rags for years.

That's what you call "tongue-in-cheek".

[Stan Fischler's Beard]

Guys, just ignore alf and he'll go away. He just wants attention. Don't read his posts. Skip over them. Resist the temptation!

[modnarm]

when he says more offense i think he means.. for ZUBRUS TO GENERATE OFFENSE AND MAKE PLAYS... OFFENSIVELY! Pylon.

[Robbie]

Anyone know how to get twitter updates on the cell phone?

[Phil]

Its in your settings somewhere on twitter. You have to add your cell #, then go to TGs page and click allow moblie updates or something like that.

[Maxwell]

Robbie - register your cell # on your Twitter account and then go to whomever you're following and you can turn on 'device updates.'

TG - thanks for all these posts! Just got through reading about 8 and it's all good stuff. I'm stoked for the BBQ tomorrow.

[Rico Suave]

once again i just beg someone to teach zubs self confidence enough to shoot the puck. the more he shoots the better the chance to score...our entire season rests on his shoulders ZUUUUUUUUUBS

[A Local Fan]

I like how certain posters keep reminding everyone to just ignore me. Guys take your own advice and stop talking about me. I'm allowed to post my opinions and I will continue to do so whether you ignore me or not.