"There's so many quality coaches, quality people, that are coaching at the college level," said Hakstol, who spent 11 seasons as coach at the University of North Dakota before being hired by the Flyers on May 18, 2015. "And I think you're starting to hear some of those names. I don't think there's been any major shift in terms of the quality of people. There's guys that are capable of coaching at any level."

Dave Hakstol doesn't see himself as a pioneer, but he understands that his success as coach of the Philadelphia Flyers could open doors for NCAA coaches who have NHL hopes.

The Dallas Stars named Jim Montgomery, who coached the University of Denver for the past five seasons, as coach on Friday. Montgomery, 48, is the first college coach to jump straight to the NHL without previous professional coaching experience since Hakstol, and the fourth ever, joining Bob Johnson, who went from the University of Wisconsin to the Calgary Flames in 1982, and Ned Harkness, who went from Cornell University to the Detroit Red Wings in 1970.

[RELATED: Stars name Jim Montgomery coach]

Part of the reason NCAA coaches have emerged as candidates for NHL jobs is the success Hakstol has had in his three seasons with the Flyers.

Hakstol, 49, has guided Philadelphia to the Stanley Cup Playoffs in two of his three seasons while helping to integrate a number of young players into key spots in the roster, among them defensemen Shayne Gostisbehere, 25, and Ivan Provorov, 21, and forward Travis Konecny, 21.

"I don't think there's any question that you can draw a parallel to it," University of Minnesota coach Bob Motzko said. "Dave was the pioneer in the modern day to take the chance and get after it. I think there's many more that could follow. … I think everything in sports is a copycat. If it works you might look at it again."

Flyers general manager Ron Hextall said he's spoken to his peers about his decision to hire Hakstol and the learning curve his coach has had, but only in general terms.

"I've talked to a couple guys about it in casual conversations," he said. "Anytime something happens that's not the norm, I think guys ask questions, chat socially about it. More that than pointed questions."

Hakstol follows college hockey as closely as he can and said he's spoken to several coaches who have asked about his experiences in the NHL.

"I've talked to him a few times about it," University of Michigan coach Mel Pearson said. "What I appreciate … he's always very giving of his time, whether it's to call you back or answer questions, or I'm watching a Flyers game and I see something I want to ask him questions about, he's always been great about calling you back and sharing. You're always trying to steal and share things. He's great about that."

Hakstol wouldn't go into detail about who he's spoken with, but he said those conversations have included dealing with off-ice situations as much as in-game strategy.

"Hockey's hockey," he said. "Obviously there are (differences), absolutely there are, and I'm the first one to acknowledge that and I'm not going to downplay that. There are differences [at] every level that I've been at, from junior hockey to college hockey to the National Hockey League level. Every level has different challenges.

"There is a lifestyle change, there's no question, because of a lot of factors. There's definitely a change in your rhythm and your routine, and that affects different people in different ways. That's one of the first things, before talking about hockey, I would talk about a lot of different things when I do talk about things."

Motzko said the NCAA coaching fraternity has become big fans of Hakstol and will be rooting for Montgomery.

"The college coaches have always been a market on the outside looking in," he said. "Of course we're going to root for those guys to have success. And we sure hope they have a lot of it."

Hakstol said he isn't a fan of being called a trail blazer. He's just happy that more NHL teams are recognizing the quality of coaches at the NCAA level.

"Throughout the game of hockey there are so many good people that are capable," he said. "When the opportunity matches what somebody's passion is, then it's right."