I know Pioneers hockey coach David Carle loves the University of Denver and living in Colorado, but you have to think an NHL team is going to throw a truckload of money at him (Toronto? Las Vegas?) The Chicago Blackhawks were hot after him last year. He’s the best DU coach ever!

– T-man, blessed to be in 303

Kiz: As Carle stood next to a larger-than-life mural of Murray Armstrong outside the DU locker room early last week and paid tribute to the father of the Pioneers’ hockey dynasty, the thought hit me: At age 36, Carle is just getting warmed up. What he does next in this sport is limited only by his imagination. Yes, the NHL will certainly come calling again. But if Carle stays put at DU for another decade, he’s not only on track to surpass Armstrong as the most legendary coach in Pioneers history, he could make himself a contender as the greatest college hockey coach of all time.

The most outstanding sports team in Colorado of this decade? We all know it’s the DU hockey Pioneers!

– Ron, living the high life

Kiz: Former Alabama coach Nick Saban was the boss of college football for a full 15 years. If Carle can set himself up as the czar of college hockey, why leave for the NHL? My choice as the greatest college hockey coach of all time is “Badger” Bob Johnson. He began his career at Colorado College in the 1960s, won three national championships on the University of Wisconsin bench, didn’t make the jump to the NHL until after his 50th birthday and led the Pittsburgh Penguins to the first Stanley Cup in franchise history at age 60. Carle will do it his way. But following the path of Johnson wouldn’t be a bad way to go.

So Walmart now owns all the pro sports teams in Colorado. Just go ahead and change Denver’s name to Walton.

– L.S., she’s got jokes

Kiz: If you had a spare $15 billion stuffed under the mattress, would you rather build your budding sports empire around the Broncos and Rockies or prefer to write the paychecks for Nikola Jokic and Nathan MacKinnon, two guys fully capable of bringing home the MVP trophies from the NBA and NHL?

The Nuggets and Thunder sitting superstars Jokic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, as well as almost every key player, for a late-season game in Denver was a rip-off. Feel bad for the ticket-buyers who thought they were going to see a showdown. But I also recognize both teams are trying to go into the playoffs healthy.

– Anthony, Denver

Kiz: All the knuckleheads here at Kickin’ It Headquarters hope is we get to see Joker and SGA go at it in the playoffs.

And today’s parting shot is from a Nuggets diehard happy that I have serious concerns about defensive lapses undermining the team during the NBA playoffs.

Kiz, when you worry, I feel more confident, because you are a grumpy old man.

– J.W., always sunny