Carlo has averaged the fifth-most ice time among Maple Leafs defensemen since being acquired by Toronto.
The Toronto Maple Leafs added Brandon Carlo at the NHL trade deadline, and he’s been a seamless fit since.
Going into the deadline in March, there was a lot of talk of how Toronto would find a player to complement Morgan Rielly, who, at the time, wasn’t playing his best hockey. There were a few intriguing options, like Luke Schenn, whom Rielly played with in the past playoffs.
That, however, was botched when the Pittsburgh Penguins picked him up from the Nashville Predators before shipping him off to the Winnipeg Jets. Then Carlo came into the mix when the Boston Bruins decided they were having a fire sale.
Toronto added the 28-year-old, who has two more seasons on his contract at $3.485 million, for Fraser Minten and a 2026 first-round pick. That move was likely their most consequential at the deadline.
Since then, Carlo has averaged 19:13 through 20 games with Toronto, playing most of his minutes alongside Rielly. According to NaturalStatTrick, the pairing has a 57.04 expected goals-for percentage at five-on-five through 220 minutes.
It’s the best among Maple Leafs pairings that have played more than 200 minutes together this season.
“I would just say he’s sort of come as advertised, right? On the ice, he’s a big, long guy. We’ve talked a lot about it, they’re just harder to get around. He’s a sticky player. He’s got reach, he’s got length. The way he clears the front of the net, a simple puck mover,” Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving said on Friday.
“I think his game is sort of as advertised. And then always the unknown when you bring a new (player) is the fit, right? How it’s all going to fit, and I think he’s fit seamlessly. I think him, not only just him and Morgan, but down the stretch here we’ve had guys out, and he’s fit with different people.
“He’s become a really important player, and we’ve added a really elite teammate. The people in Boston talked about how great of a guy he was. You guys have had a little chance to get to know him. Just a wonderful person. So I think it’s been a real good fit.”
When the Maple Leafs step onto the ice for practice on Saturday, one day before Game 1 against the Ottawa Senators, you’ll likely see Carlo back with Rielly as Toronto’s top pair, barring any of their injured defensemen remaining out.
Carlo has been referenced by head coach Craig Berube several times throughout the last few weeks as a vacuum. Maple Leafs fans have witnessed that for years when Toronto has gone up against the Boston Bruins.
However, now, he’s on their side and looking to help the Maple Leafs lock up the ultimate prize.
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