Maple Leafs Have Conversation With 3-Time Champion Head Coach

The Toronto Maple Leafs' head coaching search continues to churn away, as they are reaching out far and wide to candidates of all stripes. From newbies to the old experienced hands, from so-called players' coaches to disciplinarians. And everything in between.

But one potential candidate, University of Denver bench boss David Carle, has something that no other coach on the Leafs' ever-expanding list can claim: Three national championships. Carle, at the age of just 36, is already a legend in Denver, with a 208-85-20 record over the past eight years, and three NCAA Div. 1 titles in the past five years.

Insider Elliotte Friedman reported on his 32 Thoughts podcast on Monday that the Leafs have had a "conversation" with Carle.

They are determined to take some time here. But the one thing I can tell you, is that there has been at least initial contact between the Maple Leafs and University of Denver coach David Carle... I think it is simply an initial conversation... to guage his interest... Just to see if there's room for a more in-depth conversation... I believe they will talk again.

This would be a very exciting hire in Toronto if the Leafs are able to pull it off, but Friedman cautions that we shouldn't "get too carried away with this," as it's still in the very early, exploratory stages.

But as that old Wayne Gretzky saying goes, "You miss 100% of the shots you don't take." So at least the Leafs are taking a shot at this.

With other names being mentioned like Bruce Cassidy, Manny Malhotra, Jay Woodcroft, and others, Friedman insists that the Leafs "are determined to do a big search, and... it's premature to name anybody as a favorite right now."

But we would surmise that if Carle and the team make it past the exploratory stage and into a more "in-depth conversation", it would be hard not to move him right to the top of the list.

The Leafs fired head coach Craig Berube last week, after he had a lengthy meeting with new GM John Chayka and his right-hand man, Mats Sundin.