THE OTHER big news in Grand Forks on Monday was that the University of North Dakota quickly found its new coach, a guy who had been a well-regarded assistant coach at both the NHL level and at the college level, a guy who had logged 241 games in the NHL and who has gained renown for developing young defensemen.
North Dakota promoted Dave Hakstol's 50-year-old assistant, Brad Berry.
If you're trying to figure out why Flyers general manager Ron Hextall, weaned entirely under the traditional hockey substructure as both a player and administrator, would reach into college for his all-important first coaching hire, start there.