As strange as it may sound, misinformation has been at the heart of reporting on the Toronto Maple Leafs coaching search.
Just about every pundit and talking head has uttered an opinion regarding who the next bench boss will be in Toronto. That situation has led to a jumble of data points signaling one candidate or another.
Perhaps the biggest issue over the weekend was purported confirmation that David Carle was set to join the Maple Leafs. Some reports suggested the move was imminent, while others downplayed the situation.
However, the situation remains in limbo as there is no confirmation one way or another. What is clear about Carle and the Maple Leafs is that there has been contact. The Leafs have reached out to the University of Denver head coach, and there has been an invitation to join the selection process.
What has happened after that largely remains a mystery. While some information has ascertained that Carle is the main candidate, others have poured cold water on the situation, claiming that Carle has respectfully declined the offer.
That’s where the status of the Maple Leafs coaching situation stands. Other candidates like Jay Woodcroft, Peter Laviolette, and even Bruce Cassidy have all emerged, but none have really gained much traction.
While there really isn’t an overwhelming sense of urgency to hire the team’s next coach, GM John Chayka would likely want to have someone in place sooner rather than later.
Chayka Looking to Make Major Management Moves
Monday’s announcement regarding the additions of Judd Brackett and Freddie Hamilton was a fantastic move aimed at bolstering the Maple Leafs management team. The hirings will go a long way towards improving the organization’s legitimacy and boosting the club’s ability to attract free agents.
That said, the next major coup for the Chayka administration would be to hire a top-end coach.
That’s where David Carle comes in. Anything less than Carle, or perhaps a highly respected, tenured coach like Cassidy, would seem like the Maple Leafs settling. That’s why the team’s coaching search has become seemingly more complex than initially thought.
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Maple Leafs Could Still Surprise Fans with Coaching News
While it seems that the likelihood of David Carle landing in Toronto seems like a distant hope, there’s always the chance that the team could surprise fans.
According to some of the chatter, the Maple Leafs are willing to throw piles of money at Carle to come to Toronto. That same chatter posits that Carle wants to stay in Colorado. Hence, the 36-year-old would seem like the heir apparent to the Colorado Avalanche coaching job whenever it opens up.
That said, there’s no telling how much money would be enough to entice Carle to jump ship. Since there is no salary cap for coaches and management, the Maple Leafs can afford to outbid everyone else on the planet for a high-end coach.
Whether the possibility actually materializes is another story entirely.
Still, there’s a chance the Maple Leafs could surprise the NHL world. The Chayka regime has done a good job thus far with the savvy front-office hires. So, that could be a harbinger for a top-notch choice behind the bench.
Maple Leafs Coaching Search Reporting Driven by Misinformation