Wild Names Lemaire Head Coach

NHL teams

"This is a brand new team. I know that I will have to be patient, the fans will have to be patient, but I'm telling you, we will win our share of games," Lemaire said.

Lemaire, 54, won eight titles in 12 seasons as a player, all with the Montreal Canadiens. He was an assistant general manager when Montreal won the Stanley Cup in 1986 and 1993, and coached the New Jersey Devils to the 1995 championship.

"This is a great opportunity for me to build a team and a tradition of excellence for the Minnesota Wild organization," Lemaire said. "(Risebrough) and I share the same commitment and patience necessary to develop young players and we understand the devotion required to win the Stanley Cup."

Lemaire was a teammate of Risebrough's from 1974-1979, when the Canadiens won four straight titles from 1975-1979.

"I don't want to lose," Lemaire said. "I think that I have enough patience to work with the players. I want the guys to give what they have to give, do what they do best, and I know we'll win our share of games."