Maple Leafs acquire Brandon Carlo in major trade with Bruins

The 28-year-old blueliner, known for his physicality and shutdown abilities, has two more years remaining on his contract with a $4.1 million cap hit. That will be a key part of the deal as it is expected that the Bruins will have retained salary in the trade, and Carlo was not a rental.

Carlo’s arrival vastly improves Toronto’s top four, providing much-needed size and defensive stability. While his offensive game is limited, he is excellent in front of the net and is strong at breaking up plays. He will be a significant piece in the team’s playoff run. When added to Scott Laughton, who was also acquired at the deadline, the Leafs got much more challenging to play against.

Are the Bruins rebuilding now?

This move signals a major shift for the Bruins, who appear to be entering a full-scale rebuild. With the departure of several key players, such as Brad Marchand, who was dealt to the Florida Panthers, only franchise cornerstones David Pastrnak, Jeremy Swayman and Charlie McAvoy remain. Trading Carlo to their fiercest rival suggests Boston is focused on the future, and it was all about what assets they could recoup in the final moments of the deadline.

Will they try to retool on the fly with the assets they acquired at this season’s trade deadline? They have some good young pieces and added some others. However, the Bruins' current roster must be devastated by the losses.

The return package for Carlo remains unclear, but early reports indicate Toronto paid a hefty price to land him. Fraser Minten is confirmed to be part of the trade, and Conor Timmins might be.