(UPDATED) Jacques Lemaire Steps Down In Minnesota. Could This Mean Something In Houston?

Andrew wrote earlier tonight that he thought this might be Kevin Constantine's last regular season road game as the coach of the Aeros. And if you've been checking the links over on the right side of this blog, you might have figured out why that it is. But just in case...

Following the Wild's 6-3 victory over the Blue Jackets, Wild coach Jacques Lemaire announced that he is stepping down as the team's head coach. It's too early to know what the Wild have in mind, though I'm sure Wild GM Doug Risebrough, assistant GM Tom Lynn, and owner Craig Leipold probably suspected that this move was coming, especially since there was thinking that Lemaire would retire after last season.

Thus we come to Kevin Constantine. There was speculation when he was hired to coach the Aeros that he was kind of hired as Wild coach in waiting. Well, that and he was hired to get a bunch of underperforming knuckleheads in Houston performing as they should be performing.

We could still be a long way from knowing anything however. I would think that there will be no announcement about anything until the NHL and AHL playoffs are over. I'm also sure that there are going to be discussions about the future of Risebrough in Minnesota, so everything could be up in the air for awhile to come.

UPDATED: Russo's updated blog post provides a few more details. While Lemaire was allowed to quit, it appears that he might have been asked to step down. Lemaire also makes it clear that he wants to coach again. And Constantine is listed as one of the prime candidates for the job.

Seriously, Doug

I know. I need to learn to let go. I'll work on that in the off-season.

Dear Aeros: Letters to the team in response to Thursday's suck-minus performance

Dear Riser,

Please don't come to Houston and bring all your brass friends when we're in a critical stretch. The boys lose their ever loving minds when they know you're in the barn and now's just not the time. Or be a little more ninja-stealth next time.

Also, your big club is done. D.O.N.E. Stop taking our players. They weren't good enough for you when we could afford to be without them. Don't make like they're good enough to save you now, or that you haven't gotten a sufficient look at them. Malarkey. Let one team in this organization have a fighting chance.

Sincerely,
Ms.C

Dear KC & staff,

What was up with those line combinations? The boys looked half the time like they'd never met each other; they didn't have a clue what their linemates were doing; there was no chemistry whatsoever. I imagine you were trying to spark something there, but yeesh. No mas.

To wit, Madsen on the fourth line with Jay and Mitch is just ... it's just... just awful. Please stop it.

Respectfully,
Ms.C

Dear Brusty,

Oh sweet mercy, how nice it was to have your puck playing, poke checking, player whacking self back on the ice. I've missed you so much.

Now look, we're both goalies here so we can be honest with each other, right? Dude, you were Mr. Delayed Reaction last night. Gotta chug those Red Bulls or whatever and get moving out there. We'll chalk it up to rust. But please don't think that was good enough.

The glove hand got going, though (show off). And the insane poke check attempt... ahhh... I know it didn't work exactly like you planned, but it's one of my favorite guilty pleasures when you pull crazy ass moves like that. It's like eating one of those Monte Cristo sandwiches. It's messy and you shouldn't do it and it may cause a heart attack but it's just slap-yer-mama delicious.

Your comrade in big, swinging sticks,
Ms.C

Dear Rejean,

I got you a t-shirt. ;)

Most sincerely,
Ms.C

Dear Benny,

The brass is in the house and that's what you give 'em? Ya just gotta protect that puck better. And where was the hitting and toughness and ferocity you've shown over the last couple of months?

Lookit -- I know it sucks that KK got called up and you didn't, but this team needs you to hunker down and focus and bring the noise. Be a pro, Ben. Play like the NHLer you think you should be. Use your teammates. Don't be a cowboy. You're better than this.

Cheering you on but ready to throw you under the bus if you keep playing like last night,
Ms.C

Dear Equipment Fellas,

Thanks for putting the boys in the darks. That was really nice.

Take care,
Ms.C

Dear Tony,

Sorry I doubted you. That goal last night was sick sick sick. I can only imagine the cred you have with your team back home as they watch you take this challenge on and succeed.

Keep it up,
Ms.C

Dear Brennan Evans,

Spearing (attempt)? Ha ha! Next time you cost your team 4 minutes in the box, you might actually want to connect with your victim, tough guy.

FU,
Ms.C

Dear Nolan,



Yours in puck stoppage,
Ms.C

Oh damn, I just remembered I was given license to drop all the f-bombs I wanted in my post-game and I dropped nary a one.

But if last night's "level of compete," as KC says, continues through the weekend, I'll make up for it. Hockey scouts and sailors will blush. Chuck Norris will cry. Don Cherry will wear a t-shirt and jeans. You don't want that on your doorstep, boys.