Insider Projects Coach David Carle's Potential Path to NHL

He's got his team in the Frozen Four once again, and is going for his third national title in the last four years. David Carle's job with the University of Denver over the last six years easily makes the young head coach one of the most sought-after bench bosses in hockey. But will he move from his great situation in Denver to the NHL this summer?

Insider Elliotte Friedman, speaking on the NHL Network on SiriusXM on Wednesday, agrees that Carle can write his own ticket into the NHL, if he wants to. But there are certain conditions that would need to be met:

He's got the hammer. I think Chicago has, or will, talk to him. I think Philly will too... But he's made it very clear that he's not leaving Denver unless he gets what he wants. I think that's gonna be a big ticket.

Friedman says that the average first-year coach in the NHL earns a salary of about $1.2 million. So money is the first thing:

If David Carle is leaving Denver for the NHL, it's going to be a lot more than that... Carle has that power.

In fact, Friedge says, the St. Louis Blues, who interviewed the 35-year-old coach last year, had "a little bit of sticker shock" when the subject of compensation came up.

But that's only part of the equation. The second condition that will need to be met is less on the business side and more on the hockey side of things—on the ice.

"I think Carle is going to have to be convinced that there's a reasonable path to winning," says Friedman. "I think that one of the things that people are wondering is, 'What is Carle's patience for a rebuild?'"

Does that potentially take the Blackhawks and/or the Flyers out of consideration?

"He won't win (with either of those teams) as much as he's used to. How comfortable is he with that?"

In his six years at the helm with the Pioneers, Carle has a 148-62-16 record for a .690 winning percentage. No, that won't be happening with the Blackhawks, Flyers, or any other NHL team.

Could be some interesting negotiations this summer for anyone looking to bring in Carle behind their bench.