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Home | Sports | Minnesota Wild

Wild coach fed up with 'kids'

Bruce Bisping, Star Tribune

Wild coach Jacques Lemaire hasn’t seen what he wants from his young players. “The kids, they’ve got to play,’’ he said.

Jacques Lemaire is beside himself discussing Benoit Pouliot, James Sheppard and Colton Gillies -- and what he needs them to do.

By MICHAEL RUSSO, Star Tribune

Last update: October 20, 2008 - 12:50 AM

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WILD STRUGGLING YOUNGSTERS

Up next: 7 p.m. Thursday vs. Buffalo • Xcel Energy Center • TV: Ch. 45 (830-AM)

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Not even starting the season 4-0 and sweeping its three-game road trip to the Southeast was enough to get the Wild's "kids" a reprieve from a very frustrated coach.

After the Wild's 1-0 shootout victory Saturday night at Tampa Bay -- a game in which the Wild was outplayed by the Lightning -- coach Jacques Lemaire lit into Benoit Pouliot, 22, James Sheppard, 20, and Colton Gillies, 19, for not stepping up when the team was missing key forwards Marian Gaborik, Pierre-Marc Bouchard and Owen Nolan.

It was clear who Lemaire was talking about, though he never mentioned names.

"They've got to do better!" snapped Lemaire, his voice rising, his face reddening. "Come on. We've got to see them. I've got nobody! I've got nobody to play, and I've got to sit them? They have to wake up. Come on!

"I don't want to get on them, but you know, this is the NHL. I've said that. But we demand a lot. The kids, they've got to play."

Lemaire bemoaned the 4-minute high-sticking penalty Gillies took in the first period.

"That really screwed everything up," said Lemaire, referring to how he had to play the same players over and over again. "It's Mikko [Koivu] again and [Antti] Miettinen again and [Eric] Belanger again. We can't do this. If you're not going to score, you're not going to help offensively, you've got to be sharp."

Lemaire said he knows Gaborik, Bouchard, Nolan and defenseman Marek Zidlicky probably won't all be ready by Thursday's game against Buffalo, "but we need more players, that's for sure. That's going to help, because we can't go like this. Four-on-four, we played four players."

The Wild escaped Tampa Bay because Niklas Backstrom made 32 saves, Miettinen followed consecutive game-winning goals with the shootout-deciding goal and Belanger saved two sure goals in the third period by diving in front of yawning nets.

But Lemaire vowed that "the kids" will learn the hard way. "As soon as I get my [injured] guys back, I know what I'm going to do," Lemaire said. "It's a matter of time. It's a matter of time. I'm telling you. It's no secret. It's a matter of time."

Gillies admitted he has been slow to adjust to the faster pace from junior to the NHL, and that's understandable.

Sheppard, expected to make a giant leap from his rookie year, has no points and is a minus-4 in four games.

"[The Atlanta and Florida games] were not acceptable for the team's terms or my terms, either," Sheppard said. "I'm frustrated because I played so well in the preseason, and I'm doing the exact same things, but I'm not playing as well.

"I'm looking to bounce back and play my usual game because it wasn't me the last couple games."

Lemaire's options are limited -- other than scratching players.

The chance of Sheppard being sent to the minors for a reality check is slim to none. It's unlikely the Wild would return Gillies to his Western Hockey League team, Saskatoon.

The player at the most risk is Pouliot, who continues to frustrate Lemaire at every turn. Pouliot is on a two-way contract with no waiver requirements, so the Wild eventually could opt to send him to Houston, although it's doubtful that would happen this soon.

Lemaire is so frustrated with Pouliot that the coach, who usually minces no words, has done everything possible to not say a word when asked about him.

But Lemaire's facial expressions and hand gestures say it all.

Not even a goal and an assist Thursday at Florida was enough to give Pouliot a break. Asked Friday about Pouliot, Lemaire was nearly speechless for one minute. At one point, Lemaire pulled out a toothpick and started picking his teeth. He then threw his arms up and down.

Asked what's missing, because Pouliot's skill is undeniable, Lemaire said, "I don't know."

"I don't know where I start with him. I've got no answers," said Lemaire, who added he'd "eventually" have words to go with his theatrics.

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