NHL News: Connor Bedard, Blackhawks learn discouraging news on potential Anders Sorensen replacement

The Chicago Blackhawks must answer a crucial question as they head into the NHL offseason and upcoming 2025-26 season: who will be the team’s head coach? Unfortunately for Connor Bedard and the rest of the locker room, one of the strongest candidates is no longer in the running to suceed Anders Sorensen.

The Blackhawks are coming off a disastrous NHL season, finishing in second-to-last place in the league, only standing above the San Jose Sharks. However, all hope is not lost yet in The Windy City.

The team’s young core is showing signs of blossoming, lighting the way toward a much brighter future in Chi-town. Bedard remains the number one star, but he no longer looks like the only point of hope in Chicago. A team is forming around the 2023 first-overall selection—but one key piece is still missing: a leader behind the bench.

To aid that pain point, the Blackhawks are embarking in a coaching search during the offseason, in hopes of finding the right name for the job. However, the sailing hasn’t gotten off to a smooth start, as David Carle, the favorite to succeed Anders Sorensen, has already shut the door on Chicago’s opening.

Denver Pioneers Head Coach David Carle looks on after the Pioneers defeat the Minnesota State Mavericks 5-1 in the 2022 NCAA Division I Man’s Ice Hockey Championship game at TD Garden on April 09, 2022 in Boston, Massachusetts.

“Hearing that David Carle has withdrawn from consideration for the Chicago Blackhawks coaching job,” insider Elliotte Friedman stated about the Blackhawks’ coaching hunt in the NHL.

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Carle’s résumé

David Carle has built one of the best portfolios out of every coaching candidate in the NHL. Although Carle has no experience in the NHL, he’s led the Denver Piooners in the NCAA to two National Championships, solidifying the program’s reputation as one of the biggest powerhouses at the collegiate level.

Moreover, Carle led Team USA U-20 to consecutive gold medals at the IIHF World Junior Championships in 2024 and 2025. While it’s unclear whether he is seriously interested in making the jump to the NHL, it’s evident that every franchise with a head coaching vacancy has considered him.

While coaching Bedard and the Blackhawks’ young stars could be exciting enough to outweigh the organization’s other issues, Carle has opted to stay in Denver for now. However, he might reconsider if another franchise comes knocking at his door.