Tom Powers: Minnesota Wild singing post-Lemaire blues

Todd Richards has the unenviable job of following Jacques Lemaire as coach of the Wild.

[XD40 Fan]

Boo-hoo, Tom. Last I checked, the Wild didn't drop their ticket prices to reflect the "local lad who will be playing 'Lady of Spain' on the accordion." This is the NHL. The Wild don't look like a big league team, and no brown-nose columnist can't justify it.

[wtf]

I'm sure that many of the JL haters are second guessing now. It seems it wasn't all him now. I'm just not a big fan of Richards right now. Doesn't seem to have the respect of the players, and they seem to get pretty apatheic quickly.

[SlapSnot]

Get your **** in gear or get the ***** out of dodge.
Respect my ***. What about earning a little respect from the fans who are paying top buck for this ****** cellar dwelling trash.
Except for Clutterbuck these cake eaters look like they are handcuffed to the bench.
Tell that ***** coach his job is to motivate, if he wants to hold hands, go see his girlfriend...

[Tall Paul]

I do not miss Lemaire at all, but being new and having a different systems is NOT an excuse for not winning. Sorry.
I believe the Penquins went right to the Cup with a brand new coach didnt they?

[Duh]

Another column posted from below JL's desk. Tell me Tom, does the PP reimburse you for your travel from New Jersey? The Wild suck because DR ran the franchise into the ground with poor draft picks and no system development. The Red Wings and Penquins win because they developed their draft picks and sign good talent. Pitt has four top 5 picks on its roster and Detroit uses late round picks Datsuyk and Zetterberg to carry the load. Let the Wild suck and then we can stockpile some top picks who have talent and build the foundation for the hockey powerhouse this state deserves.

[sooperthanksfora sking]

When you see that the Wild prospects are ranked 30th in the league, I would say that long term is the only way to describe the plan. IMO this team could use a couple of top ten draft picks. Of course I'm not a season ticket holder so I have no problem being patient.

One mistake that has seemingly been made early on was the signing of Martin Havlat. Coach Richards wants a strong forchecking team, but so far it looks like PMB could go into a corner and take the puck from Havlat. Of course part of his present problems may be the pressure to earn his big paycheck, and the obvious lack of playmakers around him.

[gjacob]

You coach the players you have, not the ones you wish you have. You cannot run Pittsburgh's offense without a Crosby, Malkin, Staal, Kunitz and such (any of those 4 would be the Wild's best player, to put it in prospective how far we have to go).

[SlapSnot]

gjacob wrote:

You coach the players you have, not the ones you wish you have. You cannot run Pittsburgh's offense without a Crosby, Malkin, Staal, Kunitz and such (any of those 4 would be the Wild's best player, to put it in prospective how far we have to go).

******! Did you tell that to Herb Brooks after he beat the ****** Ruskies.
If you wanna run with the big dogs, ya gotta lift your leg a little higher.

[monroe]

Tall Paul wrote:

I do not miss Lemaire at all, but being new and having a different systems is NOT an excuse for not winning. Sorry.
I believe the Penquins went right to the Cup with a brand new coach didnt they?

Yes. He did, but he also had alot of talent to work with.

[Sconnie Brian]

Here is the problem I have with the current team versus previous teams - the amount of effort they consistently put out. I don't think I ever saw one of Lemaire's teams only show up for a few minutes or maybe even one period. I was at the Nashville game and I watched the Vancouver game - they just seem to be consistently getting outworked. You can blame the players for the effort, but the coach is the leader.

[monroe]

Sconnie Brian wrote:

Here is the problem I have with the current team versus previous teams - the amount of effort they consistently put out. I don't think I ever saw one of Lemaire's teams only show up for a few minutes or maybe even one period. I was at the Nashville game and I watched the Vancouver game - they just seem to be consistently getting outworked. You can blame the players for the effort, but the coach is the leader.

So how is Jacques doing there in New Jersey?*wink*

There are many on the Wild you can point fingers at.

[Cy Whiteside]

These overpaid powderpuffs couldn't hold a candle to me and my Millers or the Fighting Saints.

Gotta go get some guys like Butch Bouchard, Ted Leboda, Aggie Kukolowitz, and Wily Moe Benoit.

[RiverRat]

Comparing these two coaches makes for entertaining reading for 3 minutes perhaps, if you're at the laundrymat reading it like I was. Otherwise, it's a waste of time. Lemaire is to Richards what a Cadillac is to a Chevy Volt, and until TR wins his 11th Cup, ALWAYS will be. The "long term plan" is scary though. What young bucks are we thinking are going to lead this team in 3-5 years? I'll bet you no more than 5 or 6 of these guys will even BE here in 5 yrs! Lietard has set up his situation like many new money zillionaires. If this works, he's a hero. If it fails, he buys time as an owner by already having his "fall guy" in TR. Maybe Fletcher too. Lietard may be "a fan", but count on it- he's keeping his ass well away from potential failure in the "new system". Like Jacques said: it's lip service extrordinaire. Until Fletch fires at least one shot over the bow, by, say, ditching Shep for some new floor mats and a jug of deicer washer fluid, they show me nothin' but delusions

[SlapSnot]

Sconnie Brian wrote:

Here is the problem I have with the current team versus previous teams - the amount of effort they consistently put out. I don't think I ever saw one of Lemaire's teams only show up for a few minutes or maybe even one period. I was at the Nashville game and I watched the Vancouver game - they just seem to be consistently getting outworked. You can blame the players for the effort, but the coach is the leader.

I agree, all of this "new system" excuse BS should have been worked out and drilled into these ****** sandbaggers in training camp and preseason.
Its "show time" not "we need a little more time".

[Tom Powers Sux]

Way to go. You have proved that you are a crappy fan and a loser once again.

[TheMaster]

Biggest problem were the fans and media dumping on Gaborik. A superstar player chased out of Minnesota. Way to go!!!!!!