April 20, 2025, Toronto, On, Canada: Toronto Maple Leafs celebrate a goal against the Ottawa Senators during third period NHL, Eishockey Herren, USA playoff action in Toronto on Sunday, April 20, 2025. Canada News - April 20, 2025 PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY - ZUMAc35_ 20250420_zaf_c35_048 Copyright: xNickxIwanyshynx
April 20, 2025, Toronto, On, Canada: Toronto Maple Leafs celebrate a goal against the Ottawa Senators during third period NHL, Eishockey Herren, USA playoff action in Toronto on Sunday, April 20, 2025. Canada News - April 20, 2025 PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY - ZUMAc35_ 20250420_zaf_c35_048 Copyright: xNickxIwanyshynx
It's been a week since the Toronto Maple Leafs fired former head coach Craig Berube on May 13. Six days later, on May 19, a Leafs insider hinted at the team's interest in the University of Denver’s head coach, David Carle, as their top pick for the team’s vacant coaching position.
In the JD Bunkis Podcast, James Mirtle made comments hinting at this situation.
“It sounds like they're going to cast such a wide net and talk to 30 or 40 people that I'm reluctant to throw out a bunch of names," he said. "But Carle is the No. 1 candidate with the success that he's had in the NCAA."
This comes in as Toronto makes a widespread search for the new coach following the dismissal of Berube last week under the new general manager, John Chayka’s leadership.
The 36-year-old has a solid resume, holding a 179-74-17 record as a college head coach. However, he is loyal to his college position.
"But he's been reluctant, and he's turned down other NHL jobs to leave there," Mirtle said. "He has a young family. I don't think he wants to uproot his family and move, and then things go sideways after two or two-and-a-half years. That's the average life expectancy for an NHL head coach right now, it's under two-and-a-half years."
Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube watches the play against the Dallas Stars during the third period at Scotiabank Arena. (Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-Imagn)
Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube watches the play against the Dallas Stars during the third period at Scotiabank Arena. (Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-Imagn)
As reported by Elliotte Friedman on Sportsnet, the Maple Leafs have initiated contact with Carle.
Other than him, Toronto reportedly has Abbotsford Canucks' Manny Malhotra in their list, who led the AHL affiliate to the Vancouver Canucks, to be Calder Cup champions last season. Another name that is doing the rounds is Toronto Marlies' John Gruden.
But Carle is at the top of the list.
The Reason Behind David Carle Being the No. 1 Candidate for Toronto
Carle led Denver to national championships in 2022, 2024, and 2026. Beyond his success in college, he has shown his coaching abilities on the international stage, too. He led the USA Team to winning gold twice at the 2024 and 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship in Gothenburg, Sweden.
At the age of 28, he was hired at Denver, and Carle was the youngest head coach in the NCAA Division I men’s ice hockey.
He then became the fourth youngest coach in history to win a Division I national title in 2022 and the youngest ever to win two national championships.
This came right after his Pioneers' win in 2024. Now, with solid experience, it is up to Carle whether he will view the Maple Leafs’ opportunity as a major one, which is enough to leave his job security and all the milestones he achieved at Denver behind to coach the NHL team.
Will Carle accept the Maple Leafs' job? Share your thoughts.
Read more at NHL Fan Central!
Written by
Aadhya Nalla
Edited by
Soheli Tarafdar