The Maple Leafs want David Carle and he is making them wait

The Toronto Maple Leafs are desperate to bring David Carle in as head coach, but he isn't completely sold on them and needs more convincing if he wants the job.

David Carle is a coach who is highly sought after by several NHL teams but rejected every past offer. He has built a dynasty with the University of Denver and recently just signed a long-term extension. The Maple Leafs are working hard to convince him to come over, but he isn't listening to what they're selling - at least not yet.

We reported earlier this month that the Maple Leafs had a lot of interest in University of Denver head coach David Carle, and actually reached out to have preliminary discussions with him. It was also expected that future conversations will occur, but so far there's been nothing concrete.

Toronto trying hard to convince David Carle that the NHL is the right spot for him

John Chayka is going to try and make sure that he keeps trying to convince Carle to at least think hard about a serious offer, plus the money and accolades as being the coach to come in and bring Toronto to glory for the first time in 60 years.

However according to Elliotte Friedman, it seems Carle is going to make Toronto wait long and hard before he makes his decision and revealed the Maple Leafs are going to try their best to make him think twice about rejecting them:

Carle, they're working through that. I think they're interested in him a lot and everyone is trying to gauge what the possibility is. I do think though that Toronto wants to make Carle at least think of them and give him a reason but as of this morning, nothing I hear is imminent.

Carle has no real reason to head out of Denver yet considering he just won the NCAA Championship with them and has won three of them as head coach in addition to one as an assistant with the school. He's a legend already and will go down as a person who never got a chance to show what he could do on the ice; but sure as heck can make an impact on the bench.

It's hard to really ignore just how good he's been over the last decade whether it be as an assistant or head coach in Denver or leading the US Juniors to back-to-back gold medals; you can't deny he's the best coach not in an NHL position right now.

Bruce Cassidy was never contacted which means that the Carle plan may be the only one they want to go with

Now, Toronto hasn't talked to Cassidy yet however that isn't too shocking. Edmonton and LA both tried to talk to him for their vacant positions and were rebuffed by the Vegas Golden Knights who still hold his contract rights despite firing him towards the end of the season.

But the fact they haven't put any feelers out shows that maybe their reluctance to have an NHL head coach is starting to show though. John Chayka admitted that he wants to have an extensive and deep search but experience was not really essential in that search. It's likely why the team is working so hard to convince Carle.

They have been through the wringer with Craig Berube, Mike Babcock, Randy Carlyle, and Ron Wilson. All of those were long-time coaches and none of them brought any success. Toronto's most exciting and fresh brand of hockey was with Sheldon Keefe; who was a newbie when he came in having only been at the OHL and AHL levels.

It's the need to bring in a fresh voice that doesn't have any experience or expectations about what an NHL team should be. There's unfortunately a lot of ego in play still, and the old heads looking for jobs are still going to try and push out a system that doesn't fit the modern style.

But bringing in a coach who exclusively worked with players 18-24 and made sure that they not only were primed for success, but did so in such a dominating fashion is what the Maple Leafs truly need. If they are getting Gavin McKenna prepared, who better than someone who is familiar with him and be a voice who can get through to him a lot easier.

There's too much to love about David Carle and it's not too shocking that Toronto is pushing hard for him, but it's solely up to the head coach if he feels he's ready to take on the hardest job he's ever had.

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