 |
 |
 |
|
Star winger Marian Gaborik is entering the final year of his contract and will likely be looking for a significant raise after scoring a franchise-record 42 goals last season. So Risebrough has to decide this summer whether to sign him to a big-money, long-term deal or trade him.
| Advertisement |
|||
| |||
The team also has 10 unrestricted free agents, including veteran leader Brian Rolston and Pavol Demitra, one of Gaborik's best friends.
With all that uncertainty hanging over the team, Lemaire's decision to return and provide some continuity and stability is a big one for the Wild. He is the only coach this franchise has employed and is a beloved figure in this hockey-crazed state.
"This is a sport where there's more potential for change than ever before," Risebrough said. "You need that stability. It's hard to find continuity now. There's so many variables out there."
Now the two of them have to figure out how to get the Wild out of the first round of the playoffs after two straight early exits.
Lemaire wouldn't speculate on how long he will continue coaching, but he said it would be a dream to win the Stanley Cup with the franchise he helped start.
"You look at it, when I was in Montreal, we won a few cups there," Lemaire said. "I went to Jersey and we won a cup there. For us it would be great to start with a brand new team and bring it there. It would be a great, great achievement that any person would dream of."
mstm1 
