As the NHL offseason inches closer, the annual coaching carousel is off and spinning. A number of teams have already moved on from their head coaches, and rumors have been heating up on who their replaces may be. The list includes established veterans, up-and-coming assistants, and even standout coaches from the college ranks. One name that continues to surface in these conversations is David Carle, head coach of the University of Denver. However, Sportsnet insider Elliotte Friedman said on today’s 32 Thoughts Podcast that the belief is Carle will be returning to Denver.
Carle recently withdrew consideration for the Blackhawks position, but it appears he’s not currently interested in any coaching jobs in the NHL. As Friedman notes, things can always change as more positions become available, such as the Pittsburgh Penguins position becoming available today. But for now, it appears the 35-year-old coach has unfinished business at the NCAA-level.
In other coaching news:
- Friedman discussed the Anaheim Ducks and their level of interest in former coach Joel Quenneville. He said the belief is that Quenneville is in fact a serious contender for the position and added he believes several teams are also looking into Quenneville. With Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek expressing a clear goal of reaching the playoffs next season, Friedman suggests that’s why the team is showing interest in Quenneville—a three-time Stanley Cup champion and the second-winningest coach in NHL history. With that said, Friedman also acknowledged how any team’s fanbase may be opposed to the hiring of Quenneville based on his past, all teams are going to have to weight when determining whether or not to move forward with the veteran coach.
- Elsewhere, Friedman also mentioned that multiple teams seem to be working from a similar shortlist of coaching candidates—a list that, for several, includes Rick Tocchet. While Friedman doesn’t believe Tocchet has been granted permission by the Canucks to talk with other teams, he did key in on a piece of information president of hockey operations Jim Rutheford spoke on in a press conference recently. Rutherford acknowledged that the Canucks currently lack a dedicated practice facility—something Friedman believes Tocchet may have expressed frustration about. With positions available in Philly and Pittsburgh, Tocchet has ties with a few franchises currently looking for a head coach, so it will be interesting to see how things play out in Vancouver.
Hell, who can blame Carle? A good college coach in a good program has something NHL coaches don’t have: stability. Just for yucks, I counted up the number of NHL coaches in the entire expansion era who’d made it as much as ten full years with one team. Ten of them.
Take a Red Berenson, by contrast. Three seasons coaching in the NHL, two of them partial. And then he racked up 33 seasons with the Wolverines. Not. Shabby.
Genuinely asking, how much do college coaches make?
He could pull $8-10 M a year in the NHL these days.
What’s the average first year coach in the NHL make? (As to what the average college coach makes, mm. Depends on the program, of course, but certainly not $8-10 MM.)
But the other factor is that a college coach has COMPLETE control, in a way a pro coach just doesn’t. Sullivan’s successor has to take what Dubas gives him, and has to win over a locker room full of *far* less expendable players. When all is said and done, who gets more say there, the new coach or Crosby?
Carle just turned down a better Hawks job so I have no idea why I keep seeing people thinking he’d take the Pens job.
We need a coach who can maximize individual player development, both in terms of skills and in terms of consistent effort and adherence to structure.
We need someone to incubate the eggs so when we are ready to win the next coach can cook with them.
Um, you incubate eggs to hatch them, not scramble them in a hot pan!
Idk, I would think Woodcroft would be a better fit with the Ducks.
Only a matter of time now before an organization hires Quenneville.
It seems like all of the same has been names bouncing from one organization to another only to get fired or let go at seasons end. Carle is young, innovative and has complete control of future. He will leave Denver when he gets the right opportunity. But I am surprised he isn’t on Anaheims radar which has a talented, young and upcoming team?
Great college coaches aren’t always a sure-thing in the NHL. Ask Dave Hakstol and David Quinn.