Maple Leafs boost blue line, add Bruins' Carlo

The Toronto Maple Leafs have acquired Boston Bruins defenseman Brandon Carlo, adding significant size and a veteran presence to their blueline ahead of Friday’s NHL trade deadline.

The Maple Leafs traded top prospect Fraser Minten and a 2026 first-round pick to the Bruins for Carlo. They also traded forward Connor Dewar and defenseman Conor Timmins to the Pittsburgh Penguins for future considerations to clear roster space.

Carlo, 28, is a 6-foot-5, 220-pound defensive stopper in his 9th year with the Bruins. He’s averaged 18:46 in ice time this season in 62 games and was the Bruins’ primary penalty killer on the blueline (2:50 shorthanded ice time per game). Carlo helped the Bruins defeat the Maple Leafs in playoff series in 2019 and 2024.

Carlo is signed through 2027 with a $4.1 million cap hit. There is some salary retention in the trade.

Minten, 20, was selected 38th overall in the 2022 NHL Draft. He can play center or wing. Minten has 19 games with the Maple Leafs in the NHL after turning pro in 2023-24 but has spent most of this season with the AHL Toronto Marlies. The 6-2 forward plays a physical game and can play a variety of roles. Many considered him to be the Leafs’ second best prospect behind forward Easton Cowan.

The Boston Bruins were full-on sellers at the NHL trade deadline. Besides Carlo, the Bruins traded captain Brad Marchand to the Florida Panthers, center Charlie Coyle to the Colorado Avalanche, center Trent Frederic to the Edmonton Oilers and forward Justin Brazeau to the Minnesota Wild.