Where do we go from here? RW77 and the new Job Opening

Well, consider me one of shock... though it isn't shock because Eades is gone. It's more of shock that Eades isn't gone due to a new position...either head coach at the DI level or USHL level.

I think Eades is one of the more up and coming coaches at the collegiate level among the cadre of attractive candidates that do not have DI head coaching experience.

  I haven't a doubt that Eades' unemployment will be measured in weeks rather than in months. Best of luck, Cary. Here's to success wherever you end up (unless it is against UND).

The NEW UND coach:

UND has basically two directions: First would be to promote Dane Jackson to Associate Head Coach and hire an Assistant Head Coach. The other would be to hire an Associate Head Coach.

First, hiring a new Assistant Coach:

This would be the least expensive option as they wouldn't necessarily have to shell out as much money as they'd have to if they went for an Associate Head Coach. Not to mention that it opens the most options to UND. Although UND doesn't have to follow "tradition" of hiring former UND or at least WCHA coaches or players, a new assistant can be ANYONE... including poaching a coach from the ranks of Major Juniors if they really wanted. They can also go in the direction of giving a guy his first shot at the DI level...having no real coaching experience outside of the volunteer variety... for example: Karl Goehring.

Possible Candidates can be from a large variety of sources from juniors up to the pro ranks. With how open this possibility is, I'm not sure anyone other than Karl who jumps out at me. Perhaps Tony Hrkac would be willing to take a shot at this position.

Option Two: Hire a new Associate

This is the more costly option but it holds a lot of intriguing names. People who have made their names known in the past could become candidates. Some names that come to mind include: Jason Herter, John Marks, Steve Johnson, even Chad Johnson could come up. There could be non-UND candidates, such as Shattuck's Tom Ward (he was a former Minnesota Assistant Coach). Hey, I hear John Hill and Troy Jutting are available. But then again, hiring John Hill would kill our program. Heh, we should make a run at one of the Sutters. They'd know how to undo the major junior influence. After all, no one knows more about Major Junior recruiting away NCAA players better than the Anti-NCAA Sutter family. I'd also love to see James Patrick be included in the list but he's doing well as an NHL Assistant and probably has a future at that level.

Like with the other option: They could go completely out of the blue. So my questions to the readership are: What direction do you think UND will take? Who do you think will be a candidate? Any you'd like to see on the list that I haven't mentioned?

More Potential Departures...including Coaches (RW77)

Brad Schlossman has stated that Aaron Dell is likely to sign. There have been tweets that suggest that there may be up to 3 more early departures. We know that MacWilliam and Rowney aren't the other 2.

I also doubt Rodwell and Grimaldi will bolt. For Grimaldi it would be ridiculous...unless he's bolting for an entry contract and assignment to Major Juniors (ala BC's Adam Pineault a few years back) but... that would suprise me. I'm pretty certain that one of the two is Danny Kristo. However, I think the third is just a rumor.

As for Dell, the Montreal Canadiens were trying to sign him after last season but I doubt they're in the mix now thanks to GM being fired. Best bet is Calgary, but I wouldn't count out Winipeg.

In either case, it would solve a lot of the conjecture as to what happens to Tate Maris.

And in other news:

Schlossman reports Cary Eades is a candidate for the Mankato job. This isn't a surprise as I'm sure Eades has been a candidate in several head coach gigs since he came back to UND. It would not surprise me if Eades bolts for Mankato either. Mankato plays gritty...which is Eades' forte. Eades' hire may also keep the higher profile recruits they have from bolting.

As for UND, it would be interesting to see what direction they go. Will they promote Dane Jackson to Associate Head Coach and hire an Assistant or will they hire an Associate Head Coach and keep Dane where he is?

If Dane gets promoted, it would not surprise me to see the Assistant position go to... Karl Goehring. He's already working with the team and has done a decent job.

Or... what about Scott Koberinski? He's been helping UND since I was at UND it seems like... (circa 2002 or so). Koberinski has head coaching experience in the USHL.

John Marks and Steve Johnson will pop up. However, the question would be: Would Steve take a lateral job change especially since UND turned him away twice. I'd hope so as I'd love to see Steve back as a coach.

They could go out of left field and hire Tom Ward out of Shattuck? He has WCHA coaching experience, though with the hated Gophers...

In the end, Eades isn't going to stick around forever. And he is destined for a head coaching gig. I think Mankato would be a good gig if he wants it. That being said, I hope he stays.