Jacques Lemaire

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Lore & Background

Lemaire is one of six NHL players to have scored two Stanley Cup-winning goals, achieving the feat in both 1977 and 1979. One of the two Cup-winners came at the 4:32 mark of the first overtime of game four in the 1977 Stanley Cup Final. Another famous goal by Lemaire was in the deciding game seven of the 1971 Final, when he scored with a shot from center ice to beat Tony Esposito to cut the Canadiens' deficit to 2-1; Lemaire then assisted on Henri Richard's game-tying goal. Lemaire's NHL playing career ended following the 1978–79 season when he surprisingly rejected the Canadiens' contract extension offer of $225,000 for each of five years. He left the NHL to become a playing coach in Switzerland.

In Their Own Story

The relationship between Lemaire and Guy Lafleur shifted dramatically when Lemaire returned as head coach of the Canadiens in 1983. Once linemates during the glory years, they struggled to transform their bond into an amicable coach-player dynamic. Lemaire became known for his defensive-minded approach, insisting every player contribute defensively, which clashed with Lafleur's offensive focus. By 1985, the rift was intolerable; Lafleur requested a trade, but General Manager Serge Savard refused to avoid fan and media backlash. With no other options, Lafleur retired acrimoniously. Lemaire then guided Montreal to their first playoff series victories since 1980, reaching the Wales Conference Final in his first full season before being succeeded by Jean Perron. He later served as assistant general manager for the Canadiens' Stanley Cup wins in 1986 and 1993.

Reader's Guide

Lemaire was an NHL head coach for seventeen seasons with the Canadiens (1983–1985), New Jersey Devils (1993–1998, 2009–2011) and Minnesota Wild (2000–2009). One of 24 coaches with 600 wins (as of 2025), Lemaire led the Devils to their first Stanley Cup in the 1994–95 season. He won the Jack Adams Award in 1994 and again in 2003. Lemaire is known for his unorthodox coaching style: he prefers a defensive-minded system, often using the neutral zone trap; he rarely uses permanent lines; and he never employed a permanent team captain during his tenure with the Wild, opting to rotate it on a monthly basis. After retiring at the end of the 2010–11 NHL season, Lemaire accepted a position as special assignment coach for the Devils. He most recently worked as a special assignment coach for the New York Islanders, a position he previously held with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Did You Know?

• Lemaire scored at least 20 goals in each of his 12 NHL seasons.
• He was the first player to have played at least ten seasons and recorded a 20-goal season each time.
• Lemaire is one of six NHL players to have scored two Stanley Cup-winning goals.
• He is the uncle of former NHL goaltender Manny Fernandez.
• There is a hockey arena in LaSalle, Quebec named after Lemaire.