The Chicago Blackhawks are still searching for their next head coach.
According to a report by Elliotte Friedman on Saturday, David Carle has decided to withdraw his name from consideration for the head coaching position, despite a strong effort by the Blackhawks to recruit him.
Carle has achieved significant success coaching the United States national junior team, leading them to two consecutive gold medals at the World Juniors tournament. The 35-year-old native of Anchorage, Alaska, has been the head coach at the University of Denver since 2018, guiding the team to NCAA national championships in both 2022 and 2024.
Friedman had previously speculated on his podcast, “32 Thoughts”, back in January, whether an NHL team would pursue Carle, noting that he might prefer to stay in Denver.
On the podcast, Friedman quoted Carle`s potential perspective: “One possibility is that Carle might feel he could coach at Denver for a very long time. He has a young family, a great setup, and can live comfortably for years. If he were to leave, it would have to be a truly compelling opportunity,” Friedman remarked. “Given his recent success, it`s hard to imagine a team *not* making it worth his while. While some might argue that coaching juniors differs from coaching in the NHL, NHL players watch the World Juniors. They recognize coaching talent. They would look at Carle and see someone capable of coaching.”
Friedman added, “Many current NHL players came from Denver or played against Denver. They would look at him and see a coach.”
Chicago parted ways with head coach Luke Richardson in December. Anders Sorensen took over as interim head coach for the rest of the season. The Blackhawks did not make the playoffs, finishing the regular season second-to-last in the Western Conference with a record of 25 wins, 46 losses, and 11 ties.
