David Carle is turning heads in the hockey world, but he’s not ready to make the leap to the NHL just yet.
At just 35, Carle has already built an impressive resume. He’s led the University of Denver to remarkable success and grabbed back-to-back gold medals with Team USA at the World Junior Championship.
You’d think he’d be jumping at NHL opportunities. After all, about a third of the league is hunting for head coaches right now.
But Carle’s keeping things in perspective.
“The situation didn’t perfectly align with what we were looking for,” he told The Athletic’s Joe Smith. “We love Denver. It’s our home, and going through the NHL talks probably solidified that even more for us.”
For Carle, it’s not just about the next career move – it’s about what’s best for his family. He’s made it clear that only a truly “life-changing” opportunity would convince them to leave Denver.
He’s already caught the eye of several NHL teams. The St. Louis Blues came calling last year, and this season both the Chicago Blackhawks and Anaheim Ducks showed interest. The Ducks eventually went with veteran coach Joel Quenneville instead.
But Carle’s got a pretty sweet setup in Denver. He just won national championships in 2022 and 2024, landed a contract extension, and has rock-solid job security with the Pioneers.
He’s also pretty candid about the NHL coaching carousel: “NHL coaches aren’t treated in a way that’s conducive to long-term success.”
For now, those conversations with NHL teams have only strengthened his commitment to the University of Denver, where he’s building something special with no plans to leave anytime soon.
