Confirmed with Link: Leafs acquire Brandon Carlo (15% retention) for Fraser Minten, cond. 2026 1st round pick and a 2025 4th round pick

[Roo]

But that has been a "strategy" since the Core4 have been here. Their AAV doesnt allow for quality depth, and when we go dumpster diving to be cap compliant in the hopes of "Core would break through eventually" that hasn't happened.

I have not seen anything from the core especially marner in the post season that tells me they are just there with needing a little push. That was the Dubas/Shanahan era mantra "we're almost there" that they gaslighted every single Leaf fan for years.

To me its the same experiment we are running now so to be seen if it pays dividends in the playoffs. Even if Stolarz puts on a show, we still need to put puck in opposition net.

In the last 5 years in post season these are the scoring stats for Matthews, Marner and Nylander

Matthews 35 games and 13 goals = 0.4 goals per game
Nylander 34 games and 17 goals = 0.5 goals per game
Marner 37 games and 6 goals = 0.2 goals per game


Somethings gotta give though isn't it?

I don’t recall the Leafs ever focusing on defense and goaltending during the core-4 era the way they have Tre got here. This is the first season I can remember where we are not trying to outscore our problems. Nylander scoring at 0.5gpg is great. Matthew’s, yeah you want a little bit more but it’s not egregious. Marner isn’t a goal scorer. Our bottom 6 got 1 goal in a 7 game series. That just as big a problem in my mind. The third line needs to produce.

You’re completely right though, it’s the same horses and there are no guarantee the outcome will be different. But this is about as big a change as a team can make. The numbers show it too. We’re right there for winning the division, despite scoring much less.

 

[Jozay]

What exactly is your definition of a mean streak then lmao?

Playing the body and being physical is different from having a mean streak. Eric Cernak for example is someone who plays with a mean streak.

My definition is Jake muzzin

 

[Stephen]

Marchand chose to go there. He was brought there to counter us especially. Marner is having nightmares.

Any self respecting true contender will roadkill 38 year old Marchand with heavy physical play and push him out of a series. His new linemate Bennett literally sucker punched him out in the Florida series.

 

[Stephen]

I don’t recall the Leafs ever focusing on defense and goaltending during the core-4 era the way they have Tre got here. This is the first season I can remember where we are not trying to outscore our problems. Nylander scoring at 0.5gpg is great. Matthew’s, yeah you want a little bit more but it’s not egregious. Marner isn’t a goal scorer. Our bottom 6 got 1 goal in a 7 game series. That just as big a problem in my mind. The third line needs to produce.

You’re completely right though, it’s the same horses and there are no guarantee the outcome will be different. But this is about as big a change as a team can make. The numbers show it too. We’re right there for winning the division, despite scoring much less.

Considering we basically traded a 69 goal scoring, 100 point plus franchise center for a 30-35 goal man in 2024 vs 2025 in Matthews alone it really tells you what a positive impact the D and G upgrades have been.

 

[Stephen]

I'm gonna cause some nightmares with this, but how much you like Carlo will probably depend on whether you hated Justin Holl or not.

You can basically copy and paste the scouting report from one to the other:

Big, but not physical, uses size and long stick to angle people off and clog the middle, absorbs a ton of hits, good on the PK. Complimentary player who needs the right partner to be effective.

I think he's better, but not much. Probably the biggest thing he has going for him is he's proven he can do it throughout the playoff grind.

Whether or not this is a good trade will come down to how well he meshes with either McCabe or Rielly. If it works with one of them we're laughing. If not, that's a lot to give up for a bottom pair PK specialist without much bite.

That’s also the Chris Tanev scouting report. It comes down to effectiveness. People didn’t like Holl because he was green lit to push for higher risk plays which resulted in catastrophic defensive breakdowns and his commitment to bread and butter defense was inconsistent.

I get that Carlo was a whipping boy in Boston as well but they’ve been spoilt.

 

[BobClarkesfrontteeth]

That’s also the Chris Tanev scouting report. It comes down to effectiveness. People didn’t like Holl because he was green lit to push for higher risk plays which resulted in catastrophic defensive breakdowns and his commitment to bread and butter defense was inconsistent.

I get that Carlo was a whipping boy in Boston as well but they’ve been spoilt.

Far too many people believe a fan base's scouting report of the current season rather than looking at a player's career profile. Until this year Carlo has often been on the top pairing with Lindholm on a Playoff team. This year Boston decided to pair him with Zardorov as a 2/3 pairing D. While on paper it looked like a good pairing with the size and physicality they both have the same weaknesses that became compounded with a very slow, soft and offensively challenged forward group. Teams simply just teed off on this pairing. Zardorov and Carlo had over 160 turnovers combined!!!! Sorry but that is a failure of management and the coaching staff not the player. Even with this horrible turnover number Carlo is somehow a plus 2 with 80% d zone deployment and the toughest competition deployment. There is a very effective Defensive Dman there he just needs a better partner and deployment.

 

[ER89]

He paid a 4th plus Minny had to take a contract.

This isn't the site for accuracy buddy you let me wallow in my. Ignorance

 

[Bust]

Any self respecting true contender will roadkill 38 year old Marchand with heavy physical play and push him out of a series. His new linemate Bennett literally sucker punched him out in the Florida series.

I like Bennett but I want to see the Knies redemption arc continue by knocking his ass out. IIRC he concussed Knies in round 2 (2 yrs ago).

 

[Leaf Fans]

This isn't the site for accuracy buddy you let me wallow in my. Ignorance

He was traded for Alex Touch if that is any consolation.

 

[Budz]

I think he will fit like a glove in Berube’s system. Just hoping for good health. The concussions scare me.

 

[Gary Nylund]

It’s easy and fair to lay blame on your top scorers because of what they are paid. But it’s the team that’s let us down, not a select few. This isn’t the NBA. Everyone matters in a 7 game series. D and Goaltending included, but they didnt really get any of the heat.

Of course everyone shares the blame, that's obvious, I'm just saying that Marner and JT get the biggest share of blame, then Matthews. You can pick at the guys making a small fraction of what they make but don't let that distract you from the simple fact that these have been 3 of the highest paid players in the league, and they haven't earned their pay in the playoffs, simple as that. When Marner puts up 3 points in 7 games for a 11 million cap hit, that's just terrible and a much bigger detriment to the team than anything some guy making 2-3 million can possibly do.

 

[Guided by Veseys]

Obscenely soft call.

 

[therealkoho]

With term as well

And retention as well, it's the proper thing

 

[Doublerum1975]

Thought carlo looked ok a little bit of bad luck so far

 

[TMLAM34]

Going to take some time to settle in with a new team and new system, especially playing alongside Rielly who’s struggling himself in a new system.

 

[Future]

Thought he played great tonight and got better and better as the game went on.

28 years old and locked up for cheap for the next 3 years. Feeling really good about this deal and adding him to the right-side behind Tanev.

 

[ORRMAN]

Far too many people believe a fan base's scouting report of the current season rather than looking at a player's career profile. Until this year Carlo has often been on the top pairing with Lindholm on a Playoff team. This year Boston decided to pair him with Zardorov as a 2/3 pairing D. While on paper it looked like a good pairing with the size and physicality they both have the same weaknesses that became compounded with a very slow, soft and offensively challenged forward group. Teams simply just teed off on this pairing. Zardorov and Carlo had over 160 turnovers combined!!!! Sorry but that is a failure of management and the coaching staff not the player. Even with this horrible turnover number Carlo is somehow a plus 2 with 80% d zone deployment and the toughest competition deployment. There is a very effective Defensive Dman there he just needs a better partner and deployment.

So much misinformation here: he was never a top-pairing D, Zadorov is physical and Carlo is the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man. He gives up the blue line, gets beaten on the outside by anybody with speed, and, for a big guy, has no physical game. You did well with Laughton. The Carlo deal balances the Kaberle trade.

 

[The Shadow]

So much misinformation here: he was never a top-pairing D, Zadorov is physical and Carlo is the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man. He gives up the blue line, gets beaten on the outside by anybody with speed, and, for a big guy, has no physical game. You did well with Laughton. The Carlo deal balances the Kaberle trade.

If anyone can make Carlo more physical it will be Berube. I even saw Timmins hitting some guys this year which was shocking

 

[Antropovsky]

If anyone can make Carlo more physical it will be Berube. I even saw Timmins hitting some guys this year which was shocking

If the Chara captained Bruins couldn't make Carlo physical, Berube certainly won't.

 

[The Shadow]

If the Chara captained Bruins couldn't make Carlo physical, Berube certainly won't.

We will see

 

[TheReal13Linseman]

If anyone can make Carlo more physical it will be Berube. I even saw Timmins hitting some guys this year which was shocking

We spent years screaming at him, and at the tv, to play with snarl and get tough. I’m afraid it’s just not in his nature.

 

[34]

Carlo is terrible.

 

[Skullz]

I liked him tonight. Good stick

 

[Cap'n Flavour]

He had an awful start to the game but looked better after that.

 

[Future]

We spent years screaming at him, and at the tv, to play with snarl and get tough. I’m afraid it’s just not in his nature.

Don’t care if he’s laying guys out or not. What I care about is him using his length disrupting plays, winning pucks, blocking shots, and generally playing solid defense. That’s tough to play against, and we’ve seen that as an opponent in the past.