ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) - Jacques Lemaire (ZHAHK' luh-MAIR') has 11
Stanley Cup championship rings, 500 victories as a coach and is
widely considered one of the best coaches in the NHL.
     
Despite all that, Lemaire still needed a little reassurance from
Minnesota general manager Doug Risebrough (RISE'-broh) before
deciding to return for an eighth season behind the Wild bench.
     
Lemaire told reporters today he got a good response from
Risebrough and is excited to be coming back.
     
For the first time in his seven seasons with the Wild, Lemaire
had seriously considered stepping down.
     
He called last season his toughest as a coach. The Wild won
their first Northwest Division title, but struggled at times to
play as a team.
     
Risebrough says he told Lemaire he got the Wild this far, and
he's the best coach to take them to the next level.