Denver's David Carle Signs Extension, Ending Speculation Over Bruins Coaching Job

Bruins fans hoping David Carle might become the team's next head coach can look elsewhere. The University of Denver men's hockey coach signed a multiyear contract extension with the school on Monday, according to the announcement.

"I am honored to have the university's support for our hockey program over the last seven years and into the future," Carle said in a statement released by the school. He added that "nothing that we have accomplished would have been possible" without that backing, or without the support of fans, alumni and donors.

Carle's name tends to surface each offseason when NHL jobs open up, and his résumé explains why. In seven seasons leading the Pioneers, he has compiled a 179-74-7 record, won two national championships and reached the Frozen Four four times in six tournaments. The 35-year-old has also guided Team USA to consecutive gold medals at the IIHF World Junior Championship.

Chicago was among the clubs reported to have shown interest. According to Elliotte Friedman, the Blackhawks pursued Carle aggressively before he withdrew his name from consideration.

Boston never looked like a natural landing spot. Carle was an assistant at Denver under Jim Montgomery, a former Bruins coach, and took over as head coach in 2018 when Montgomery left to coach the Dallas Stars. The two remain close.

Carle discussed that relationship at last month's Frozen Four in St. Louis, where Montgomery, now with the Blues, was close to leading that team into the playoffs. "Happy for him and his family," Carle said, noting that Montgomery's wife is from the city. "I learned a lot from him, from preparation, tactics, trying to connect the group, make sure everybody feels valued, team-first attitude."

Carle appears comfortable in college hockey, and the occasional flirtation with an NHL team may serve mainly to strengthen his job security, as the new extension suggests.

He has also used his platform to push for change in the sport. At the NCAA regional in Manchester, N.H., in March, he renewed his argument that regionals should be played on campus sites. "We're the only hockey league in the world that doesn't reward home ice for having a great regular season," Carle said, adding that he believes only two or three NCAA sports lack some form of home ice in their championship formats.

Pointing to logistics and television as the usual objections, he noted that other sports have found solutions. "They figure it out for softball, baseball, women's basketball," he said. When he made a similar case to the Globe in December 2023, he said he planned to remain in the college game for a while, and Monday's extension reinforces that.