Colby Cohen wants the rumors about David Carle going to Toronto to stop right now.
The ESPN analyst posted on X on Saturday with a message that is very clear. He is completely convinced that David Carle will not be the coach for the Toronto Maple Leafs this year.
“I’m not just 99% sure; I’m completely sure,” Cohen said. “People are spreading false information and making stuff up.”
This is the strongest reaction any analyst has given to a coaching rumor this off-season. Cohen is risking his reputation to put a stop to this talk.
Carle has been one of the most discussed candidates for NHL coaching jobs from colleges. The head coach from Denver University has been connected to several job openings this off-season. The interest is real, but the connection to Toronto is not.
This is important for one main reason. The position of head coach for the Maple Leafs is still vacant. John Chayka and Mats Sundin have taken charge of hockey operations. The recent hiring of Brackett for scouting has just been confirmed. The missing part is still the coach.
When rumors take up that space, the front office cannot always respond directly. Instead, people like Cohen step in to clarify things.
Why this shows the direction of the Toronto coaching search
Chris Johnston reported earlier this week that the Leafs are trying to reach out to Peter Laviolette as a candidate for their head coach. This same Laviolette has also been connected to Edmonton. Two of the largest hockey markets are reportedly looking at the same person.
This puts Toronto in a well-known situation. They need to make a hire soon. The competing interest from Edmonton might force them to make a choice before they are completely ready.
Carle would have been an interesting choice. The history of Denver University shows how good he is. He has been coaching college hockey at a high level for many years. But when Cohen said no, it showed that the Leafs are not pursuing that option this time.
To be honest, this part of looking for a coach is tough for fans. There are rumors coming from all over. People with insider information have different tips. Some leaks are true, some are just what people hope for, and others are totally made up.
Cohen is frustrated because he watches the same false reports go around enough that they start to seem true. He decided to make his denial public instead of letting the rumors keep spreading.
GM Chayka has been busy with other things. Today, the hiring of Judd Brackett as Assistant GM was officially announced. The Leafs will have the first overall pick in the upcoming draft. Gavin McKenna is expected to be the choice.
Toronto ended the season in 28th place with a record of 32 wins, 36 losses, and 14 ties, totaling 78 points. The team needs a coach who can handle the pressure of bringing in a new young star player. The new coach will have to deal with both the trade talks around Auston Matthews and McKenna’s first game in the NHL at the same time.
The position is still open. Carle is no longer in the running. Laviolette is being considered. Other candidates will come up in the next few days as more coaching positions become available after the playoffs.
Cohen has made his position clear. The coaching spot in Toronto is still available. The only thing that will stop the rumors for good is making a real hire.
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