Blues Acquire Brandon Carlo From Maple Leafs

The Toronto Maple Leafs’ new-look front office has parted with an addition from the previous administration. Defenseman Brandon Carlo has been traded to the St. Louis Blues in exchange for two third-round picks per Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman. The deal was first reported by NHL.com’s Kevin Weekes. Specifically, Toronto will receive picks #73 and #76 in Saturday’s third-round.

Carlo joined the Maple Leafs ahead of the 2025 Trade Deadline in a deal that sent center prospect Fraser Minten, a first-round pick, and a fourth-round pick to the Boston Bruins. He only appeared in 75 games with the Maple Leafs, in part thanks to a foot injury that required surgery in December. Carlo racked up 10 points, all assists, as a member of the Maple Leafs. He also recorded 91 hits and 136 shot blocks, both fourth-most on the Toronto blue line in his time.

While Carlo didn’t shine in Toronto, he was able to fill a defense-focused, second-pair role on a nightly basis. He filled a shutdown role with the Bruins for nine seasons before his move. Carlo found much more impact in Boston, setting a 51.7 expected goals-for percentage through 617 games and recording at least 100 hits in five different seasons. He was a reliable defensive-defenseman who countered the high-octane offense of Torey Krug through his prime years, after spending the start of his career paired with Zdeno Chara.

St. Louis will now try to revitalize Carlo’s prime years, six years after acquiring the final years of Krug’s career in 2020. Carlo will help pillar a right-hand side in flux on the St. Louis blue line. He will join Colton Parayko as the shutdown options, while young defenders Logan Mailloux and Adam Jiricek find their footing in play-driving roles.

Jiricek made his pro debut during the AHL’s Calder Cup Playoffs but managed no scoring in six games. Acquiring Carlo will give Jiricek a bit more time to find his footing at the pro level, before the former first-round pick is called upon to fill a major role. He is still rather inexperienced for a pro defender, appearing in only 82 games through two seasons in the OHL thanks to a season-ending, lower-body injury in 2024-25.

The 29-year-old Carlo is set to enter the final year of his contract – a six-year, $24.6MM contract signed with Boston in 2021. He carries an inexpensive, $4.1MM cap hit.