Barn Burner: Boomer & Pinder with Rhett Warrener - Could David Carle Be The Toronto Maple Leafs Next Coach?? w/TSN's Darren Dreger | BB Clips

Episode Date: May 26, 2026

Boomer, Pinder and Rhett are joined by TSN’s Darren Dreger as they dive into the Toronto Maple Leafs coaching search and whether a younger up-and-coming coach like David Carle could actually be the right fit for this group. The guys discuss what Toronto should be looking for behind the bench after another disappointing season, why a fresh voice might make sense for the Leafs core, and whether Carle has the personality and coaching style to handle the pressure that comes with the Toronto market. It turns into a conversation about risk, upside and what direction the Leafs should take with one of the biggest coaching hires in hockey.Video Link: https://youtu.be/E3s-edwC2tw#nhl #nhlshorts #nhlplayoffs #nhlpredictions #nhlhockey #nhlpicks #stanleycup #stanleycupfinal #torontomapleleafs CHECK OUT OUR STUFF ⬇️BARN BURNER MERCHhttps://nationgear.ca/collections/shirts/FlamesnationBARN BURNER SHORTS https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLj_bcGtvvo-cW2DHEDZ6dEO5ePDmlhZc9&si=jo8iNGxT4ImhS2Y8📲 Follow us:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fnbarnburner/X (Twitter): https://x.com/barnburnerfn?lang=en🎧 Listen on:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/be/podcast/barn-burner-boomer-pinder-with-rhett-warrener/id1648562889Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Mc6Qd5U22R2zbMlQ7RxIiProducer: Jack Haverstock Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Toronto, their process is still in the initial stages, which means, you know, they're still going through their crew and they're talking to guys on the phone. Maybe they're having some virtual interviews, but no in-person stuff yet. And yeah, I think Kenny Hall and the Los Angeles Kings are doing the same, hoping that they get a crack at Bruce Cassidy. But Kenny Hall, in the meantime, is kicking tires on some other candidates.

So the wheel of the succession of NHL head coaching is turning slowly in those three markets of this. What is the deciding factor on Chaka? I'm going to hire a coach. I'm talking to 10. 10 candidates. 10 candidates. All of them that show up are going to be qualified, right? They're going to have reasons for bringing these people in.

What is the deciding gut instinct? Yeah, maybe. Is there something like I'm I think you're philosophically aligned with how they want to play, no? But to your point, like there's a lot of overarching questions where they are now versus in two years when Moss and Matthews. And I'm not just talking about

Toronto. Like Edmonton, it's like, okay, Laviolette or Cassidy, Darrell Sutter's name comes up around here a lot. Okay, who and why? Yeah. Yeah. No, I hear you. I mean, Edmonton is different among those teams for me because it feels like they need a closing coat.

right? And I do think that the reason why, you know, Vegas is not granting permission is an obvious one. I mean, they had a front row seat to watch how good this guy was and they want to stand a cup with Cassidy. And they know that he could do that in Edmonton and roll over them in the process. So I get it. There's a competitiveness to it that I appreciate. Toronto is the outlier because you're right. I mean, John Chike was brought in by Keith Belly who made a big deal out of data-centric decision-making. Okay.

So does that mean that the coach is going to have to be that guy? I mean, so does that kick a door open for Jay Woodcroft as an example who's, you know, I think he was humbled after his experience in Edmonton. Knoblock sounds like he wants to take some time. You know, I don't know that Toronto would go that direction. You know, Derek Lone's name has been out there as a possibility. What about David Carl and Denver? Toronto is different for me because if I were the general manager and still a relatively inexperienced GM and Chica, I would want, if not NHL winning experience, just winning experience.

And I would look very, very strongly at David Carl with Denver. Now, the issue has been well documented. And if the time isn't right for David Carl to leave Denver because of, family reasons. Well, there's nothing you can do about that. But because the, the Leafs are turning a page here, don't just turn it half over.

Flip it over. You know, try something new, not something that failed somewhere else. And David Carroll would be high on my list. Does it ever become an issue? Like the college football, huge, massive industry. The schools are making these tons of money.

Coaches don't want to leave. Yeah. Is it ever going to be that? Like I think I hear Carl's name. I'm like, yeah, there's a guy you should be out. It was just signed an extension. I'm sure he's getting paid politely. Like you'd be a whole big guy in college, right?

When you think about lifestyle-wise and pressure-wise, there's pressure for sure all the time. But if you're playing 32 games for a college system, it's a lot different than flying around the freaking country and chasing after things and go in there for three years and getting your ass. Here's your pink slip, right? Yeah, Carl could probably stay in Denver. for 15, 20 years.

Yeah. Like, I'm just curious if NCAA is going to ever, I think the game is growing. And I don't know what kind of the, it's certainly not college football, but college sports is a huge industry down there. And I got to think that hockey's getting bigger and bigger. And some of these guys are probably going to go,

yeah, this is good. I got a great life. I think, well, you're banging on. And you made an excellent case for, you know,

the decision on David Carl is probably going to make, which is to stay in Denver for all of those reasons. reasons. I would find it hard to believe. And college football for me is different, but anyone coaching at a high level of hockey, for me, you're coaching because you want to get to the highest level of hockey. And that's the NHL is kids are young. So I think that there is a unique family perspective to this. And make no mistake, I'm going to say this as complimentary as I can. David Carl does not lack confidence. So he knows he's a good coach and he knows that there will be an opportunity to coach in the National Hockey League when it suits him and it suits his family.

The money will be there, the opportunity to win will be there. The only thing that for me is unique and you guys are going to hate what I'm about to say, it's different when the Toronto Maple Leafs are the team calling. Because even though they haven't won since 1967, the coach the general manager that find a way to deliver a championship team, I mean, straight to the Hall of Fame and you're getting a statue outside the building. And I know that sounds absurd. It's ridiculous and it's hurtful to other Canadian markets, but it's true. And these coaches and these GMs covet the role of GM of the Maple Leafs and the role of head coach.

I haven't talked to David specifically about Toronto. I did engage with them several weeks ago, just in general about an NHAC. H-H-all opportunity. So we'll see. He will coach, but it'll be on his term.