As the Toronto Maple Leafs cast a wide net in their coaching search, a championship-winning name is in the mix.
The Maple Leafs have made initial contact with University of Denver head coach David Carle, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported on Monday’s edition of 32 Thoughts: The Podcast.
“I’ve heard it has simply been an initial conversation to gauge his interest. I believe they will talk again but I would caution anyone against running with it too hard or feeling that he’s a favourite,” Friedman said.
Toronto fired head coach Craig Berube last Wednesday after two seasons.
Carle, 36, took over from Jim Montgomery at Denver in 2018 and has since led the Pioneers to three NCAA titles in 2022, 2024 and 2026. The Anchorage native also helmed the U.S. world junior team to back-to-back gold medals in 2024 and 2025.
The Maple Leafs are set “to do a big search” for their next coaches, with others like Jay Woodcroft and Manny Malhotra potentially in the mix, per Friedman.
“The word is it’s premature to name anybody as a favourite right now,” Friedman said.
