The Toronto Maple Leafs are one of the teams most actively trying to do something, anything, to salvage this season. However, the trade market this year hasn’t been the most conducive to making major deals.
The Maple Leafs are purportedly looking to trade just about anything that isn’t nailed down. The hope is that a deal or two here could change the team’s complexity. The biggest challenge, nonetheless, is the lack of valuable trade chips.
But the Maple Leafs may have one in defenseman Brandon Carlo. The right-shot blueliner has been out since November 13. He won’t be back until some point after the New Year. But that situation hasn’t precluded The Athletic from including him in its Trade Board 2.0.
Carlo isn’t the most impressive blueliner on the market this season, but could be the sort of player that might bring something back for Toronto. As the Trade Board noted:
“He is among a small handful of players who could bring the struggling Leafs back some surplus value in a shakeup deal. Carlo is a 6-foot-5 defenseman who can kill penalties and help shut the game down. He’s not overly physical, but he’s no stranger to big-game hockey, with 85 career Stanley Cup playoff games on his resume. He’s signed for one season beyond this one, too.”
If the Maple Leafs are serious about a massive move, Carlo could be an attractive piece to a team needing a blueliner. Which team that might be is an entirely different question.
Maple Leafs Might Face Trouble Moving Carlo In-Season
The Maple Leafs could face some issues moving Carlo in-season. He’s been hurt most of the season. And even when he played, he just wasn’t at his best. So, moving him now would be at a low point in his value.
Trade partners may see Carlo’s value based on his track record. But that could only get the Maple Leafs so far. As such, Toronto may get more value in return by moving him closer to the trade deadline or even during the offseason.
Of course, that all depends on where the Maple Leafs are trending. As it stands, the Leafs are nowhere near a playoff spot. If that’s the case in late February, the thought may be to punt on the season and see what happens during the summer.
Toronto Could Just Hold on to Carlo
There’s also value in holding on to Brandon Carlo. The Maple Leafs paid a first-round pick and Fraser Minten to get him. There’s no way the Leafs would get that sort of return now. That’s why it might just make more sense for Toronto to keep Carlo for one more season.
If he proves he’s still a valuable blueliner, the Leafs may trade him at some point next season. Perhaps he has a great bounce-back year in 2026-27 and helps the Leafs to the playoffs.
Those are all major ifs, but elements the Maple Leafs may consider with Carlo. As it stands, if Toronto gets a decent offer for Carlo, it seems certain they pull the trigger. Again, that’s another major if.
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