The Blackhawks are one of a handful of teams looking to find their next head coach. Among their perceived top candidates was Denver University bench boss David Carle. However, they’ll have to turn their sights elsewhere as Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports (Twitter link) that Carle has withdrawn from consideration for the position, adding that Chicago made an aggressive pursuit for his services.
The 35-year-old has been a mainstay at Denver since his playing days unexpectedly came to an end when he was diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy just before his draft year. The school honored his scholarship offer and he worked with the team as a graduate assistant coach for four years before he moved to the USHL, joining Green Bay as an assistant coach.
That only lasted parts of two seasons before Carle rejoined Denver in 2014 where he has been ever since. He was an assistant with them until the 2018-19 when he took over as their head coach and his stock has been on the rise since then.
During his time with the Pioneers, Carle has three NCHC titles along with a pair of NCAA championships. Internationally, he led Team USA to gold medals in each of the last two years. With nothing left to prove at the collegiate level, Carle has been a speculative candidate for pretty much every coaching search thus far.
It’s unclear as to why Carle pulled his name out of the mix with the Blackhawks who would have been an intriguing fit for him as a young team that’s still developing but has plenty of young players including seven who played for him either in college or at the World Juniors, including top youngsters Frank Nazar, Oliver Moore, and Sam Rinzel.
It’s possible that another team has emerged as a front-runner for Carle, resulting in the withdrawal as he focuses on finalizing a contract. Alternatively, Carle could have withdrawn after not liking Chicago’s offer or wanting to go through what’s likely to be a couple more years of a rebuild. It’s also possible that Carle decides to stay at Denver which has become a top program and is likely to add more quality prospects for next season.
In the meantime, Blackhawks GM Kyle Davidson will have to turn his focus elsewhere in terms of finding his next head coach. At the moment, there aren’t any candidates who are known to have interviewed with Chicago while interim bench boss Anders Sorensen remains in consideration for the full-time position.
It’s possible Carle is another Jack Parker and is happy being a coach at his alma mater. To the chagrin of NHL teams.
My bet is that another team has his interest. Perhaps the Ducks, who are much closer to the playoffs than Chicago.
My hope is that Trotz wants to recruit Carle, but then I realized that Trotz isn’t that smart. :/
My bet is that it is the Rangers
Why would he leave his dream job to listen to Rangers fans heckle him game after game?
True, but Chicago seems to have much better building blocks than Anaheim, no?
No!!
That seems more likely.
I wonder if the Blackhawks will now look at more NHL experienced coaches, rookie coaches haven’t really worked out here, though a lot of hawks fans may disagree but Colliton was the best HC the Hawks had after Quennville, bouncing the Oilers in the Edmonton Bubble Playoffs, i really didn’t like the constant Healthy Scratching of Dylan Strome before he got fired but overall was better than the few after
Well Colliton wasn’t very good but neither was his roster. The few good players they did have were on their last legs and injured. I don’t think it mattered either way. COVID probably didn’t help him much either.
Tortarella personally is who I want in Chicago out of the current options mostly because he doesn’t hold back on accountability and hes a Stanley Cup Winning Coach, if Tampa gets swept and Tampa decides to make a change Jon Cooper would probably be the best option and makes the most sense in my opinion
Jon Cooper would have to do a whole lot more than get swept to lose the Tampa Bay job. He has that job as long as he wants it. And every other team would swoop in and take him in a heartbeat if TB kicked him to the curb.
If they let Cooper go he would leap to #1 on the Hawks list of coaches for the job. Fantastic coach and would bring instant validation to the Hawks Playoff aspirations. I bet he would take the job too.
Just a guess on my part but I’m betting he’s just not willing to leave a great job for a maybe. Any maybe. I’d be surprised to see him in the NHL any time soon. It seems like he likes the College scene and Intl. team play. Too bad. Hawks could have really used a guy like him. I wonder what plan B is?
Perhaps Rick Tocchet if VAN doesn’t bring him back?
Didn’t know Carle had a heart condition until now. Sounds like the University honored his scholarship and probably kicked in for some of his medicals. Maybe he feels a sense of obligation. I wouldn’t blame him. On a side note if you listen to Davidson’s end of the year interview he had some kind of heart procedure this year also. Both are young guys so kinda surprising. If I had to watch the Hawks for 82 games might have given my heart a flutter but thanks to the crap TV situation I didn’t have to.
I wouldn’t be suprised if Carle is just waiting for the Avalanche’ job to open up whenever it happens and be able to stay in town and not have to uproot his young family.
Bingo!
Yeah, the only NHL job this guy is taking is in Colorado.
Why leave somewhere you’re an icon for somewhere you’ll be thrown under the bus in two seasons so a GM can save their job.
Jay Woodcroft would be a good fit.