The Blackhawks haven’t had much going for them since the NHL’s Christmas break, but the hockey world has been as fun as ever. On Sunday, Team USA won its second straight gold medal at the 2025 World Junior Championship, knocking off Finland in an overtime thriller for the ages. Blackhawks prospect Oliver Moore won his second gold medal with the team, winning a ton of faceoffs and scoring five points in seven games.
There were plenty of stars on the ice for Team USA over the past few weeks, but one name stood out above the rest, and he wasn’t even on the ice. Many noticed how well-coached the American unit was, and that was thanks to head coach David Carle. At just 35 years old, Carle won his second straight gold as the team’s bench boss and paved the way for them to get there, making smart lineup decisions and making sure his team was technically sound at both ends of the ice.
This was far from Carle’s first big win as a head coach. He’s in his seventh season as head coach of the University of Denver and has already won national championships in 2022 and 2024. His teams consistently produce results, and he’s quickly becoming the hottest head coaching name in the sport. Carle was called a “generational coaching prospect” this week, and the league has taken notice.
He may not have any NHL experience, but the Blackhawks should certainly inquire about hockey’s hottest head coach for their new opening. Chicago’s timing couldn’t be better, and it would be hard for them to not at least give him an interview.
Now, I’m a fairly big believer in what interim head coach Anders Sorensen is doing with his lineup. He’s only had a bit more success in the points column, but he seems to be making most of the right moves, including giving the lineup a bit more consistency on a nightly basis. However, if someone like Carle is even interested in moving to the NHL, the Blackhawks should snatch him up in an instant.
Beyond his unprecedented ability to win, Carle would be a great candidate because of the amount of Blackhawks he’s already coached. Some might argue that Carle wouldn’t be a great choice because of his age, considering that there are four players on the current roster older than he is. However, by the time the Blackhawks are ready to compete again, none of those players will be on the roster. Instead, Chicago’s group will be filled with Cole Guttman, Aidan Thompson, Frank Nazar, Oliver Moore, Gavin Hayes, Sam Rinzel and AJ Spellacy – each of whom has been coached by Carle at Denver or on Team USA. Throw in players he’s coached against, like Sacha Boisvert, Dominic James and Adam Gajan, and you’ve got an incoming head coach with as much familiarity with his roster as anyone. Combine that familiarity with his proven track record of winning, and Carle is exactly what the Blackhawks are looking for in their next head coach.
