siouxkid12

And the school has come out and totally denied that claim. So who is the "other player" that has been offered big cash?

It wouldn’t make any sense for him. He is the top prospect in the upcoming NHL draft will probably be picked 1st overall and sign a deal that will give him more money than what an NIL deal will give him.

That rumor has been shut down. Players that are good enough to get offered good NIL money are more than likely good enough to sign an NHL deal that will make them more. Also, an 18 year old can play in the NHL, unlike an 18 year old who’s playing basketball or football.

I think a lot of us fans are really overthinking the NIL deal. College hockey has always had to fight against pay for play leagues (Canadian Major Jrs.) and it has always worked out fine. We aren't going to have a million-dollar player, let alone a $100k player. If a player demands a lot of NIL money that means he is a top tier talent for the NHL and the NHL allows 18-year-olds to sign big contracts.

might have hand picked him but the AD still had the final call.

I understand and I agree that if a new coach is found, someone from outside the family should be seriously considered. The original poster said that we all know that the next hire will be from within the family, I disagreed with his comment.

Why are you assuming we all know that it will be someone from the family? Also, Finley? what has he done since his playing days to be considered a coach?

Don’t ask me for lotto numbers! 😆

Every major school has and edge coach nowadays

Baker was a great president.

No, Mussman and Bubba didn't drag this program farther back, our administration did. When NDSU made an announcement back in the early 2000's, UND held a press conference announcing they were staying D2 (what a joke). When we went to D1, we tried being cheap and kept coaches that shouldn't have been coaches just because they didn't cost that much. We also hired coaches that shouldn't have been D1 coaches.

I think both. He has been to the highest level of NCAA football and made the peak, so he knows what it will take.

Also, if it were TRUE that he was offered that much money and he is a top prospect for the NHL, he ain't going to BC, he's going to the show.

Part of that problem is, he is a Canadian born player and if he goes to BC on a school visa, he won't be able to get paid.

My thoughts are if we are in a bidding war for a star player that demands money of that caliber, they won't be staying at whatever school long enough anyway. Wouldn't we want players that are going to stay long enough to develop and win? Otherwise we are stuck in the same cycle of "waiting for players to learn how to play with one another" or looking into the portal all the time. Also, NCAA schools have been fighting the pay battle for a long time against the CHL.

I really don't think NIL money is going to have a huge impact on college hockey like it does in Football and Basketball. Hockey players have the option to sign an NHL deal at a young age compared to football and basketball players. If you are fringe player, maybe an NIL deal is good for you in the short-term, but you won't be getting life changing money that would entice you to make a choice of staying or leaving.

Even a long term guaranteed contract wouldn't stop an NHL team from firing him. The issue is owners want a return on their investment, and they want it fast. They cannot/won't get rid of players that are under performing and they cater to players who whine and complain when the coaches challenge them. I understand everyone who puts on a pair of skates has a goal of reaching the NHL but at some point, the business side of it rears its ugly face and throws you to the wolves. It's easy for us fans to sit back and suggest what he should and shouldn't do but my feeling is, if Denver keeps giving you everything you want/need to keep the program as successful as it is, why not stay and become the Nick Saban of college hockey? Selfishly, I would say go, so we don't ever have to see him again though!

Out of 20 potential starters that were on the depth chart, 10 were not on the roster the previous year and only 1 was a consistent starter at SDSU. You really think he was going to be able to implement his 4-2-5 scheme in short order? Not only that but it was Sean Lewis's first year in SDSU too. There is no reason for your asinine comment on "why we hired him". I am not going to lie; I was skeptical about hiring him but with everyone he is adding to his staff, I am pretty excited to see what the future holds for UND football.

Most college football players are getting more money in NIL deals than professional hockey players, so I don't believe it's going to affect hockey that much. Hockey has never drawn the amount of money that basketball or football has, and it isn't going to change. Also, hockey players are built differently than basketball or football players. If you ask any hockey player what their goal is, I'm willing to bet that majority of them will say "I want my name on the Stanley Cup". Your shoe in NHL'ers will stay wherever they are at for 1 to 2 years. The fringe NHL'ers that need a little longer developing are going to stay because transferring is only going to delay their development. The ones that you might need to worry about are your late bloomers that are frustrated with not getting playing time and are unhappy i.e. Adam Tambellini.

@ASU - 6 Vs WMU - 6 @ SCSU - 3 Vs CC - 6 @ Denver - 3 Vs UMD - 6 @ WMU - 0 Vs UNO - 6 I am being a little more optimistic and believing we could go 12-4 in the second half. I know Berry's teams are not typically 2nd half teams, but I just think with the long rest they have had helps them in the 2nd half. The first three series will tell us how the rest of the season will go.

I wonder when the Engelstad foundation will help push UNLV to go D1?

Yup

You are correct. Sandy wouldn’t have lasted long here. However, I will say that he wasn’t given the keys to a premier program. He took over for a program that hadn’t done a thing in years.

Pull it out the cooler, whisper fire on it and put it on a plate. S and P too

Make a good run and have a good showing in the NCAA tournament. That’s all I ask. If he wins a national title, that’s icing on the cake. I just want a seat at the table in late March.