The Chicago Blackhawks might finally be entering the next stage of their rebuild—a process that has taken its toll on fans, players, and the entire organization. As Connor Bedard approaches his third NHL season, the Hawks’ star could find himself playing under a third different head coach, with recent reports suggesting the team is actively searching for a successor to interim coach Anders Sorensen.
After stepping in after Luke Richardson’s firing in Chicago, Sorensen helped the Blackhawks embrace an offensive playstyle, which became a double-edged sword for Bedard and the rest of the team.
Knowing they had little to lose, Sorensen encouraged a fearless mindset in Chicago—one that produced its fair share of catastrophic outings, along with the occasional reckless, yet statement-making win. Still, to be fair, those highlights were few and far between.
The team never truly managed to embrace this new mentality, with their performances marked more by fits and starts than by any sustained, suffocating pressure on opponents. Still, a few steps were taken in the right direction—even if the on-ice product remains far from anything resembling polished at the United Center.
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.
As Bedard and the Blackhawks await notice on their new head coach for the 2025-26 NHL season, reports indicate there is one candidate in pole position.
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According to insider Frank Seravalli, David Carle is the frontrunner for the Blackhawks’ head coaching job ahead of next season.
Drawing interest
David Carle, the brother of 2006 Hobey Baker Award winner, Matt Carle, is one of the most coveted coaches available on the market. The 35-year-old coach would bring a modern, fast-paced style of hockey to Chicago. His credentials are validated with the success he has found at both the University of Denver and Team USA’s Under-20 team.
Carle was forced to hang the skates after being diagnosed with Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) when declaring for the 2008 NHL entry Draft. Since, he joined the Denver Pioneers coaching staff, first as a graduate assistant coach. He left the school in 2012 to become assistant coach in the USHL with the Green Bay Gamblers, but returned after one season and a half to take on the same role back in The Mile High City.
Interim head coach Anders Sorensen of the Chicago Blackhawks looks on during practice prior to the 2024 NHL Winter Classic against the St. Louis Blues at Wrigley Field on December 30, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois.
Born winner
Ahead of the 2018-19 NCAA season, Carle was named head coach of the Pioneers, and since then, he solidified the decorated program back into a powerhouse in college ice hockey. With back-to-back World Juniors gold medals coaching Team USA, two NCAA National Championships, and three NCHC titles under his belt, Carle has now become a top candidate for nearly every NHL coaching vacancy.
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As he carefully eyes his first NHL opportunity, Carle won’t be rushing into any hasty decisions. Still, Bedard and the Blackhawks are closing in—eager, having longed for the arrival of the head coach who can finally return the Windy City franchise to where it belongs.
