A surprise coaching favorite is suddenly emerging in Toronto
David Carle and Craig Berube now sit in the same Toronto coaching story, and that alone tells you how wide this search may get.
Elliotte Friedman's comment was short, but it landed. If Carle wanted to talk to the Maple Leafs, Friedman thinks he would be a candidate.
That matters because Carle is not being floated here as a throw-in name. He is being mentioned as someone Toronto would seriously consider if the door opened.
And that changes the tone of the search a bit.
For days, the Leafs have been tied to younger coaches, veteran NHL names, and a few familiar options with direct league experience. Carle sits in a different lane.
He brings real shine, real credibility, and a different kind of intrigue because of what his name represents in hockey circles right now.
But the key part of Friedman's line is still the same: if he wanted to talk.
That is what makes this feel more interesting than immediate.
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A huge new favorite just entered the Leafs coaching race
If Carle made himself available, it is easy to understand why the Leafs would listen hard. He carries the profile of a coach who could walk in with instant respect while still feeling like a modern hire.
That is a powerful mix in a market like Toronto.
The Leafs do not only need a new voice after Berube. They need a coach who can handle pressure, command a room, and still represent a fresh direction instead of another recycled spin through the same coaching carousel.
Carle would check that box fast.
He also fits the broader feeling around this search. Toronto has looked like a team willing to cast a wider net than usual, and Friedman's wording supports that. This is not a one-track process.
That should get people's attention because it says John Chayka is at least willing to think bigger than the obvious shortlist.
At the same time, there is still a big difference between being a candidate and being a likely hire. Friedman did not say Carle was in deep talks. He said that if Carle wanted to engage, Toronto would view him seriously.
That is important. The power may sit with Carle here more than with the Leafs.
And that is what makes this rumor fun. Toronto is one of the biggest jobs in hockey, but even that job cannot force the conversation if the coach they like is not ready to have it.
Still, Friedman would not have said it without reason. The Leafs clearly see something there.
So this is where it stands now. David Carle is not locked in as the next Leafs coach. But if he decides he wants in, Toronto sounds ready to open the door.
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YESTERDAY
MAY 16, 2026
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| G | A | PTS | ||
| Rasmus Dahlin | 1 | 4 | 5 | |
| Tage Thompson | 1 | 3 | 4 | |
| Jack Quinn | 2 | 1 | 3 | |
| Zach Benson | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Jake Evans | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Jason Zucker | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Ivan Demidov | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Konsta Helenius | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Zach Metsa | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Arber Xhekaj | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Bowen Byram | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Cole Caufield | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Lane Hutson | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Michael Matheson | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Ryan McLeod | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Josh Norris | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Mattias Samuelsson | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Josh Anderson | - | - | - | |
| Zachary Bolduc | - | - | - | |
| Alexandre Carrier | - | - | - | |
| COMPLETE STATS | ||||