Analyst Breaks Down the Maple Leafs' Biggest X-Factor for 2025-26
Photo credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
Leafs Digest broke down why Brandon Carlo may end up being a secret X-Factor for the Maple Leafs this season as he gets a full season with the team and Craig Berube.
Last season at the trade deadline, there was a lot of talk about who the Maple Leafs could add to their lineup for their big playoff push. They settled on Scott Laughton as their 3C and also decided to pick up stay-at-home defenseman Brandon Carlo from the rival Bruins.
Although it did cost them Fraser Minten and a first-round pick, the team needed someone to play next to Morgan Rielly and Carlo was one of the better and fairly cheaper options.
What Carlo Could Unlock for the Maple Leafs' Blue Line
There's a lot to be excited about and a full season under Craig Berube would certainly do him a lot of favors. According to Leafs Digest in their recent video, he could end up being the team's X-Factor:
The biggest X-Factor to me is they need to play together [Rielly and Carlo] so that they can keep everyone else together, and obviously that worked out for them in the regular season and the postseason for the most part.
But he's going to have a full training camp, he's going to get more comfortable with Rielly, and I'm not saying they acquired him solely to play with Morgan Rielly...but they did bring him in to be his partner going forward; it's why they went after a guy with term.
But he's going to have a full training camp, he's going to get more comfortable with Rielly, and I'm not saying they acquired him solely to play with Morgan Rielly...but they did bring him in to be his partner going forward; it's why they went after a guy with term.
It's less about what Carlo can unlock through his ability though that will certainly help, but it's more about keeping things as they are as best the team can; they had so much success it would be hard to just break things up after one season.
Why Carlo's Role Could Decide Toronto's Playoff Push
But if he's getting a full season under his belt with Rielly, and gets more comfortable with him in the defensive zone and they can figure out where to best position themselves on a nightly basis, it might end up paying off.
If Carlo can give Rielly the room to be the offensive facilitator he is known to be, that gives Toronto both a boost offensively, and it makes them feel a bit better about letting Rielly pinch knowing they have Carlo to shut things down if things get hairy.
A revitalized Morgan Rielly can only lead to good things for the team come playoff time and if Carlo is able to provide him the same protection there as he can in the regular season, it should lead to good things.
Rielly is a consistent playoff performer, and while he hasn't really exploded for offense he does have 47 points in 70 playoff games contests (15 goals, 32 assists).
Being able to build upon that and knowing he has a partner he can count on to protect him, it gives Rielly the confidence to help run the play and in turn, help Auston Matthews and company find their rhythm.
We need to see how the season plays out, and whether or not Rielly can get back into his old offensive ways. But with Carlo backing him up, it seems more a possibility than in recent years.
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