OPINION: Tortorella is Gone, David Carle Should Be the Next Flyers Coach

*UPDATE: Tortorella has been relieved of his coaching duties as of Thursday morning*

After winning back-to-back World Junior Ice Hockey Championships with Team USA, David Carle, the current head coach of Team USA and the University of Denver, has become a hot name in the NHL coaching market.

While the Flyers currently have John Tortorella, his contract expires at the end of the 2025/26 season. It’s widely speculated that Tortorella wants to move into a front office position when he is done coaching.

Tortorella’s recent remarks indicate he may not be interested in coaching this Flyers team if they continue to have “this type of season.”

That would create a coaching vacancy for the Flyers. If David Carle is an option, he should be the top target.

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Could Tortorella Really be Done After this Year?

Let’s face it. There is not much about Tuesday’s comments that does not make you think Tortorella will still be coaching the Flyers next season.

It can be interpreted in one of two ways. The first is that Torts is just sick of coaching losing hockey. He does not want to continue this extended rebuild; he wants to win. I think everyone can agree, but Tortorella took it to the next level with his comment. That said, if this is the path the Flyers continue down, why would Tortorella willingly return? Especially if this is how he feels.

The second: would the Flyers want him back after those comments? Former NHL coach Bruce Boudreau had an interesting take on it last night–one that makes sense. If Tortorella is not interested in coaching “this type of season,” why should the players be interested in playing for him?

Saying he is “quitting” on the team may be a far cry from his statement. I said it last night, and I’ll repeat it: emotions were high. If he had given the postgame presser 20 minutes later, he probably would not have said anything at all. However, what was said is said, and now the Flyers must figure out where to go from here.

At this point, it seems more likely than ever that Torts will take that next step in his career, which will leave a vacancy in Philadelphia, and I believe David Carle is the right person to fill it.

Would David Carle Jump to the NHL?

David Carle has his life made already. At just 35 years old, Carle won two NCAA National Championships with Denver (2022, 2024) and the previously mentioned back-to-back World Junior Championships (2024, 2025). He is royalty with both organizations.

That said, as a young coach with already massive success, he seems to be becoming college hockey’s Nick Saban or Coach K. It would be tough for Denver to let go of Carle.

On the flip side, numerous people have reported that David Carle will not return behind the USA Hockey bench. Many could speculate that it would be the first step toward an NHL coaching path. Unlike the NCAA, the NHL schedule would not allow him to coach World Juniors and an NHL team.

The situation for Carle to leave the place where he has made his legacy would have to near perfect. It has to make sense for Carle. It has to be the right time to make the hire, and it’s going to cost a team A LOT of cash.

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Would the Flyers Make Sense?

A team will have to spend to get Carle behind their bench. The Flyers could be in a position to do so.

Let’s not forget that the Flyers are quite a young team. A young coach could be the finishing touch on whatever you would call this “rebuild.” His success in quickly developing young talent into championship-winning players is beyond impressive. Imagine what he could do with this Flyers team.

A young team with potential, like the Flyers, could vastly benefit from having a coach like Carle. With Philly looking to remain competitive while still developing its younger players, Carle would be the perfect addition to the team.

The fit is perfect, in my opinion, but could the Flyers be enticing enough to get Carle to make the jump?

Personally, I think the Flyers’ only competition for Carle is the Chicago Blackhawks. They are a big-market, original six team with a plethora of top-notch prospects. They, too, will likely do what it takes to get Carle.

If he says he is going to the NHL, every team with a vacancy will wait for Carle to choose. However, unless an unexpected vacancy opens up, to me, it would be a race between Philly and Chicago.

Family Ties in Philly

The Flyers are one of four teams David Carle’s older brother Matt played for. He also spent time in San Jose, Tampa Bay, and Nashville. In his 13-season career, Matt played the most games in a Flyers uniform (308). He played 12 games in Tampa Bay in 2008 before being traded to Philadelphia, where he played for four years. He returned to Tampa for four years after his stint in Philly.

That said, if David were to consider an NHL coaching career, I am sure Matt, with his familiarity with the city and organization, would have conversations with his younger brother about the team.

Sometimes those family connections are enough to make something like this happen.

32 Thoughts on David Carle

In an episode of 32 Thoughts: The Podcast, Elliote Friedman and Kyle Bukauskas discussed Carle and a possible NHL coaching career.

First, Carle has already interviewed for at least two NHL coaching jobs in New Jersey and St. Louis. While he did not get (or take) either job, this shows that he has at least a preliminary interest in moving to the NHL.

That said, Friedman pointed out that an NHL team would have to make it worth it for Carle to leave Denver. Carle currently makes just under $722,000 in Denver. Any NHL team would comfortably be able to outbid that, but it would take a lot to outbid other NHL clubs.

The Flyers Need to Make It Happen

With all respect to John Tortorella, he may be the right coach at the wrong time. Last season, he brought the best out of a lackluster Flyers team and had them in position for a playoff spot before a late-season collapse.

The response has not been great this season. The Flyers need youthful development rather than an old-school coaching style. Tortorella fits the latter, not the former.

If the Flyers had a more seasoned roster, Tortorella’s style would likely have far more success. However, that is not where the Flyers are, and the team clearly needs more development.

David Carle has made a career out of quickly developing young talent. At Denver, he literally has four years at most with each player to turn them into winners, which he does. With USA Hockey, the players come in as stars, but he brings the best out of each and every one of them.

The Flyers need a coach to help their young talent take the next step in their careers, and Carle is the right coach to do so.

Could David Carle be the next coach up for the Flyers?

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