The Toronto Maple Leafs have officially acquired Brandon Carlo from the Boston Bruins in exchange for Fraser Minten, their 2026 first-round pick (top five protected), and a 2025 fourth-round pick.
The #NHLBruins have acquired forward Fraser Minten, a 2026 first-round pick (top-five protected), and a 2025 fourth-round pick from Toronto in exchange for Brandon Carlo.
— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) March 8, 2025
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Maple Leafs Add Veteran Experience With Brandon Carlo
The price for these acquisitions is hefty, but unlike many recent deadline pickups by the Maple Leafs, Carlo has term left on his contract, which carries a $4.1 million average annual value (AAV), and is signed for an additional two seasons. However, the Bruins are retaining 15% of the cap hit, which now turns his cap hit to $3.485 million. Similarly, Scott Laughton is also under contract through next season. While the Maple Leafs did pay a high price, at least they acquired players who will be with the team for over a few months. As for Carlo as a player, he fits well and effectively rounds out the Maple Leafs’ top-four defense.
Carlo has experience in the Stanley Cup Final and has averaged 20:41 of ice time per game over his 72 playoff appearances. At 6-foot-5, he is a right-handed defenseman who contributes little offensively. Therefore, to create balance, the plan would be to pair him with an offensive left-shot defenseman. His age and favorable contract make him an appealing option. Additionally, he excels as a penalty killer. Currently, Carlo’s usage in Boston is limited, with only about 30% of his starts coming in the offensive zone this season and 23% last season. However, he would have different opportunities with the Maple Leafs, who already utilize the Jake McCabe-Chris Tanev pairing. Carlo could serve as a solid defensive partner for Morgan Rielly, a role he can fulfill.
The Bruins selected Carlo 37th overall in the 2015 NHL Draft. The 28-year-old from Colorado Springs, Colorado, has played nine seasons and 617 games with the Bruins. During this time, he has recorded 29 goals and 80 assists, totaling 109 points. In the 2019-20 season, Carlo achieved a career-high of 19 points, including four goals and 15 assists over 67 games.
Bruins Bolster Prospect Pool With Minten
Minten has joined the Bruins after playing 15 games with the Maple Leafs this season. During those games, he scored two goals and recorded two assists for a total of four points. He also contributed 13 points, including six goals and seven assists, over 26 games with the American Hockey League (AHL), Toronto Marlies. Shooting and physicality are Minten’s defining skills. He possesses a powerful one-timer, a smooth curl-and-drag wrist shot, and two-touch wrist shots, making him effective in open space and under pressure.
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Minten was originally selected 38th overall by the Maple Leafs in the 2022 NHL Draft. Along with the first-round pick they received, the compensation from trading Brad Marchand, and the package received in exchange for Charlie Coyle, the team aims to usher in a new era for the Bruins. The Bruins now pivot to developing a strong prospect pool, which includes players like Fabian Lysell, Dean Letourneau, and Brandon Bussi, representing the next generation of Bruins talent.
