Friedman: Maple Leafs, David Carle held ‘initial conversations’ about interest in head coaching role
It’s clear that the Toronto Maple Leafs are exercising due diligence as they conduct their search for a new head coach. And while there isn’t a favourite at the moment, the Maple Leafs are speaking with one of the best coaches outside of the NHL.
Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported that the Maple Leafs and University of Denver head coach David Carle have held an initial conversation about his potential interest in the job. Friedman warned against positioning Carle as the favourite, and it’s merely a preliminary talk at this stage. Here’s what Friedman reported on the latest edition of 32 Thoughts: The Podcast:
“The word is that it’s premature to name anybody as a favourite right now. They are determined to take some time here. The one thing I can tell you is that there has been at least initial contact between the Maple Leafs and University of Denver head coach David Carle. I don’t want anyone to get carried away with this. I think it’s simply an initial conversation. The coaches like to talk, everybody likes to talk about who’s going for what. I’ve heard it’s simply been an initial conversation to gage his interest. I believe they will talk again, but I would caution anyone against running with it too hard, or feeling he’s a favourite. I think the Maple Leafs are determined not to rush into this, and talk to a lot of people. I’ve heard there’s initial contact between Carle and the Leafs, to see if there’s room for a more in-depth conversation.”
The case for Carle, from the Leafs’ vantage point, appears to be rather simple: he’s the best coach outside of the NHL, he’s 36 and considered to be a perfect voice for the modern age, he can bridge both timelines where Auston Matthews and William Nylander lead the existing core, while Gavin McKenna, Matthew Knies and Easton Cowan find their footing in the league, with a clear track record of winning. Carle appeared on the May 7 edition of Leafs Morning Take, where he likened McKenna to Nikita Kucherov.
Maple Leafs general manager John Chayka reiterated that he’s open to hiring a first-time NHL head coach, while exploring all avenues, after firing Craig Berube. Carle’s name continues to grow tenfold in the hockey world, with three NCAA titles in five years, building one of the most sterling resumes in the sport. If he’s the best candidate on the market, the Maple Leafs could use all their institutional resources to give Carle the comfort and security he’d like that comes with the pressure of the job.
Read More: The case for David Carle as Maple Leafs’ next head coach
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