David Carle might coach in the NHL someday, but he’s realized the job he has now allows him to be pretty selective about the next one.
The University of Denver coach, fresh off a second national championship in three seasons, revealed Thursday that he did interview for one of the many NHL openings this offseason. But it wasn’t the one that people think.
“I did talk to a team. It was probably three or four weeks ago,” Carle said. “That’s the only team I feel I interviewed with. It was not the team that the report was out on that we saw earlier this week. The team I did interview with, we went through a good process and I ultimately bowed out.”
ESPN reported New Jersey spoke to Carle about its opening, which the Devils filled last week with former Toronto Maple Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe. Six NHL teams have hired a new coach since the end of the regular season, plus two clubs have removed the interim tag after a midseason firing.
Carle did not reveal which team he interviewed with, but did confirm that he spoke with another NHL team two years ago as well. He alluded to the ESPN report as a bit of a misunderstanding. He did have a conversation with the Devils, but it did not feel like an official interview to him.
“I talk to GMs regularly about players on our team and not every conversation is an interview,” Carle said. “Did we talk about my plans and my future? Yeah, we did a little bit, but I don’t think it was an interview or should it be taken that way.”
Carle noted the lack of stability among NHL head coaches as one reason he’s not itching to make that jump. Twenty of the 32 NHL teams have changed coaches since January 2023. Only four, including Avalanche coach Jared Bednar, have been at their post since before February 2022.
That’s not the only reason Carle remains in Denver. He knows the job he has now is a pretty good one.
“I love being here,” Carle said. “We have all the resources to be able to continue our success. We have great alignment, from our board to our chancellor to our athletic director. We’re very well taken care of. I view this as a top-five job in all of North America when it comes to hockey. I’m not in a rush to leave here.”
Carle has already amassed an impressive resume before his 35th birthday in November. He has led the Pios to the Frozen Four three times in six seasons since taking over for Jim Montgomery.
His .690 winning percentage in the regular season is the best among active NCAA coaches and sixth all-time. It’s better than Montgomery’s and George Gwozdecky’s during their time at DU. Carle is also 10-2 in NCAA tournament games.
That winning percentage is second all-time to an NCAA legend, Herb Brooks, who was 8-1.
“For me personally, I think he’s going to be one of the best coaches of all time,” DU freshman defenseman Zeev Buium said. “He’s so smart and he’s so young and he still has so much experience. To see what he’s doing and how he handles all of us and the way he coaches, it’s a very special and unique coach. He’s the best coach I’ve ever had and I’d play for him for years if I could.”
The Pioneers will lose several key contributors from this title team, but Buium said Thursday he is leaning toward returning. That would give DU one of the best defensemen and one of the best forwards in the country because Jack Divine decided to return for his senior season.
The Pios are also welcoming a pair of potential impact players via the transfer portal. Samu Salminen and Eric Pohlkamp are both NHL draft picks who had productive seasons elsewhere in 2023-24.
The transfer portal and name, image and likeness have transformed college sports, and the rules for team-building and roster management will likely demand more adaptation in the near future.
“We’re trying to be forward thinking and progressive on what we need to do to make sure that we’re staying competitive in the marketplace and continuing to attract not only the best players, but the best people,” Carle said. “… Are there other places that spend more money and have more bells and whistles than we do? There certainly is, but we need to make sure that we’re continuing to drive it forward.
“We don’t intend on going anywhere from our place as being the best program in college hockey.”
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