Insiders dump cold water on David Carle rumors to Maple Leafs

The Toronto Maple Leafs fell apart in the 2025-26 season and fell to the bottom of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Many had expected to finish in first place in that division and make a long run in the Stanley Cup playoffs. Their poor season led to the firing of head coach Craig Berube.

The Maple Leafs have not filled that position yet, and a false report surfaced that the hiring of University of Denver head coach David Carle was imminent. However, that report came from a fake account. A minor-league play-by-play announcer also reported that Carle’s signing by the Leafs was close to fruition, but that report was refuted by two NHL insiders.

Frank Servalli said that the Maple Leafs had a “pleasant conversation” with Carle, but it was no more than that. Carle told the Leafs that he was not a candidate for the position and he declined an invitation to interview for the job.

NHL reporter Chris Johnston of The Athletic also reported that Carle was not a candidate. His report on X said that there is “no smoke” to the report that Carle was going to become the next Leafs head coach.

The Leafs recently hired John Chayka as their new general manager, and that decision was viewed as something of a shocker because Chayka had been out of the league after being dismissed from his previous position by the Arizona Coyotes. Chayka is considered something of an outsider, so he could be interested in a candidate who is something of a longshot. However, that candidate is not Carle, who remains as the Denver head coach.