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.

Scott Bell hired as men's assistant coach

Minnesota has hired Pittsburgh Penguins scout Scott Bell as its new assistant coach.

Bell replaces Grant Potulny, who left in April to become Northern Michigan's head coach. Monday's announcement ends a search and interview process that attracted several of college hockey's top assistant candidates.

Coming off of Pittsburgh's second consecutive Stanley Cup, Bell spent the past five seasons in the Penguins organization. In that time Pittsburgh drafted Midwest collegians such as Jake Guentzel, Josh Archibald, Teddy Blueger, Frederik Tiffels and Ryan Jones. Prior to that he was head coach at Hamline (St. Paul), helping turn around a downtrodden Pipers program with two MIAC championships in six seasons.

Bell, like Potulny and associate head coach Mike Guentzel, is a Gopher alum. The Inver Grove Heights, MN native played under Doug Woog from 1990-1995. He finished with 81 points in 146 games.

“I’m thrilled to be coming home to the University of Minnesota. This has always been a dream of mine, and people who know me know that I bleed Maroon & Gold,” Bell said in a statement. “I’ve been involved in hockey at pretty much every level, but this place has always had a special place in my heart, and I couldn’t be more excited to once again be a part of Gopher Hockey.”

Bell joins Guentzel and volunteer assistant coach Justin Johnson on head coach Don Lucia's staff.