It’s been nearly two weeks since defenseman Brandon Carlo was traded from the Boston Bruins to the Toronto Maple Leafs, marking a significant shift in his career. Carlo, a 6-foot-5 defenseman who spent nine seasons with the Bruins, was traded on deadline day in exchange for a first-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft (top-five protected), a fourth-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, and forward Fraser Minten.
Since the trade, Carlo has played five games with the Leafs, recording one assist and a plus-one rating, while skating on the top defensive pairing alongside Morgan Rielly. Reflecting on the transition, Carlo shared his thoughts, noting the quick turnaround. “It seems like a lot more [than nine days],” he said. “So much has happened. I feel a lot more comfortable now than I did that first game against Colorado.”
Carlo still has two years left on his six-year, $24.6 million contract ($4.1 million AAV), with the Bruins retaining 15% of his salary. In his first game with Toronto, Carlo was on the ice for four goals—two for each team—in the first period alone. By the end of the game, he had blocked six shots and logged a team-leading 22:04 of ice time, showing his readiness for a playoff push.
On his role with the Leafs, Carlo emphasized his enjoyment of playing against top-tier players and his comfort in settling in with his new team. “Everybody here has been super nice, super kind, and that’s made the transition a bit easier,” Carlo said. “Each day has gotten better in terms of not feeling out of place… I’m settling in now, enjoying being part of this team.”