BLOG: Five Thoughts on Scott Bell's late departure

Minnesota will make one more change to its coaching staff before the 2018-19 season begins.

Assistant coach Scott Bell, the lone holdover on the bench from Don Lucia's staff to new head coach Bob Motzko, officially left his position yesterday to take a scouting job with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Bell previously scouted amateur talent for the Pittsburgh Penguins for five seasons, helping the Penguins uncover Midwest talents such as Jake Guentzel and Teddy Blueger, among others. He departs after one season.

With one month until school begins and two months until opening night, it's a late departure although not entirely unique. Several other colleges currently are filling assistant openings.

Here are five quick thoughts on the subject.

1) Job security matters 

One of the rationales Bell, who interviewed for the head coaching job that went to Bob Motzko, gave to Randy Johnson of the Minneapolis Star Tribune for leaving a job at his alma mater to go to the Leafs organization was getting job security with a multi-year deal. That's something Bell didn't have at Minnesota where his contract went through April 30, 2019. Combined with working for a coach who didn't hire him, it creates a situation where he would be spending the season auditioning for his job.

Casey Mittelstadt signs with Buffalo + his thoughts on the college experience

Casey Mittelstadt's time at the University of Minnesota has come to an end.

Mittelstadt signed an entry-level contract Monday (March 26, 2018) with the Buffalo Sabres, who drafted the Eden Prairie, MN native eighth overall in the 2017 NHL Draft. The Gopher forward will forgo his final three years of college eligibility.

We've signed forward Casey Mittelstadt to a 3-year entry-level contract.

Welcome to Buffalo, @CMittelstadt! pic.twitter.com/kvLie4Bueu

— Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) March 26, 2018

Mittelstadt finishes his one college season second on the Gophers with 30 points (11G-19A) in 34 games. He missed three games this year to play in the 2018 WJC, leading the U-20 competition in points.

The first freshman to depart Minnesota for a professional contract since Nick Leddy in 2010, Mittelstadt joins WJC teammate Ryan Lindgren in departing the Gophers early after head coach Don Lucia stepped down last Tuesday following his 19th season. Whoever takes over as head coach in 2018-19 will have to replace the team's most dynamic forward and top defenseman.

In his short time in college, the 19 year-old Mittelstadt earned a new appreciation for the fans and students of the college hockey game.

"Definitely," Mittelstadt told The Gopher Hockey Blog before facing Penn State in the Big Ten quarterfinals. "Obviously, it's cool to see people go all out like that and have some fun. I think for me, it's always fun to see that stuff, it makes for some good laughs in the locker room, things like that. I always enjoy it and think it's pretty funny."

Roar Zone student section signs. All the small photos are Casey Mittelstadt at the NHL Draft combine.

1) Wonder if the "Ew" sign was reused from Wisconsin. 2) The Sabres are owned by this rink's namesake. pic.twitter.com/m8CvFUErnY

— Nate Wells (@gopherstate) February 23, 2018

As the second collegian drafted in 2017, Mittelstadt was the focus of every opposing student section. From Ann Arbor to Grand Forks to State College and everywhere in between, students chanted his name and posted pictures of him attempting to do a pull-up.

"It's definitely fun. (Penn State) has a very good fanbase. I didn't expect it to be that good," he said. "Their student section was great and it made for a very fun weekend."

Mittelstadt signing now means he can burn a year of his ELC. He is expected to play for the Sabres later this week.

-------
If you enjoyed this blog, you can follow Nate on Twitter and like/subscribe to my Facebook page. Thanks!

Nate Knoepke departs Minnesota for Sioux City (USHL)

Minnesota freshman defenseman Nate Knoepke has left the Gopher program to play for the USHL Sioux City Musketeers.

Knoepke, who appeared in 2 games for Minnesota during the first half of the season, is expected to join the Musketeers after the holiday break, per team release. No team held the 18 year-old's rights as he was not selected by any team in May's Phase 2 Draft.

Seen as Minnesota's highest-profile freshman defenseman for the 2017-18 season, Knoepke had been unable to crack the Gopher lineup his first semester. The team has utilized 7 defensemen at times this season, but it has been fellow freshman Sam Rossini who has gotten more opportunities.

Grant Potulny to be named Northern Michigan head coach

Minnesota assistant Grant Potulny is heading to the Upper Peninsula become the next head coach of Northern Michigan.

Northern Michigan has scheduled a press conference for 10 am ET/9 am CT Tuesday morning (April 18, 2017) to announce its third head coach in program history. The Wildcats fired Walt Kyle last month after 15 seasons behind the bench.

At just 37 years old Potulny will be the youngest head coach in the WCHA.

Ryan Collins signs with Columbus Blue Jackets

Ryan Collins (6) at the 2017 North Star College Cup (Photo: Daniel Mick)

Minnesota defenseman Ryan Collins has signed a three year, entry-level contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets. He will forego his senior season with the Gophers and report to Columbus' AHL affiliate in Cleveland to play this weekend.

What's Next? A Look At The 2017-18 Minnesota Men's Hockey Roster (Part 1)

Casey Mittelstadt makes it looks effortless #WhosNext pic.twitter.com/qdXeQ5dmLf

— USHL (@USHL) March 26, 2017

The movie never ends. The soap opera is told and unfolds. But the beat goes on, and so do we.

Tickets remain to be punched (or, since it's 2017, they are more likely to be scanned off of a smartphone) for this year's Frozen Four. With Minnesota's season over following yesterday's 3-2 upset loss to Notre Dame, attention turns away from the Northeast Regional and Chicago.

Instead, let's take a look to the 2017-18 season, which begins (and could end) in the Twin Cities. Minnesota sees plenty of turnover. A large senior class departs for the pros and real life. In their place, head coach Don Lucia brings in his best recruiting class on paper since 2010-11.