Brandon Carlo addressed the trade noise, and he didn’t sugarcoat it
Photo credit: Sergei Belski-Imagn Images
Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Brandon Carlo has addressed the trade speculation surrounding him and was blunt in explaining what he hopes to happen.
With the discussion about the Maple Leafs being sellers at the trade deadline, it becomes a question of who is actually going to be sticking around, and exactly what assets or players are going to be coming back.
Names like Scott Laughton, Bobby McMann, and even William Nylander have been thrown around in proposed trade deals and rumours, and while the team can still make moves on Wednesday, time is running out.
Carlo wants to stay, may not have a say in the matter
One name who also could bring back quite the haul (especially on retention) is defenceman Brandon Carlo.
A big, shutdown defender with a right-handed shot, Carlo is a player who can help stabilize a contending team's blueline and makes a great top-four piece.
However, if you were to ask the defenceman where he wants to be come March, Toronto is the only place on his mind:
I love it here. I want to stay here.
Carlo for all intents and purposes has not been given a lot of leeway thanks to the emergence of Fraser Minten as a true top-six player in Boston, but he's been pretty solid all things considered and has dealt with some bad luck on the injury front.
But he has been reported to bring back quite a decent haul according to sources and if the Maple Leafs can retain on his $3.485-million contract, then he could fetch potentially multiple picks and a prospect.
Plus, he only has a three-team no trade list so if the Maple Leafs want to deal him, they have a much easier time doing so.
Brandon Carlo has been good for Toronto but could end up giving them more than expected
Carlo, 29, has five assists in 34 games to go along with a plus-four, 67 blocks, 34 hits, and 21 PIM in 19:37 TOI. He still has one year remaining on his contract as well.
He missed roughly a month earlier in the season after a plate in his foot got infected and he needed a procedure to remove it and recover, but has since come back and been a much different player; even showing a much nastier side and getting into a scrap with Darnell Nurse on Tuesday night.
But if a team were in a position to trade for him, the Maple Leafs are at an impasse. Carlo isn't that old and is still a great top-four D who could have an even bigger focus if Toronto deals Morgan Rielly this summer.
On the other hand, he could bring in even more assets than the Maple Leafs gave away for him in the first place, and if the team is settled on selling; he's certainly a likely casualty.
For Brandon Carlo, he loves being in Toronto and has done a pretty good job since he's been here. Though he may not have much of a say in the matter if the team decides they prefer the future going forward.
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| POLL | ||
FEVRIER 4|1070 ANSWERS Brandon Carlo addressed the trade noise, and he didn’t sugarcoat it Do you think the Maple Leafs should keep or trade Brandon Carlo? | ||
| Keep him! | 554 | 51.8 % |
| Trade him! | 516 | 48.2 % |
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