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Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman lands back on the trading block
Photo credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images
The Toronto Maple Leafs are dealing with lots of trade rumors right now, and according to Nick Kypreos, one of their defenseman is on the trading block.
Last season at the trade deadline, the Toronto Maple Leafs took a risk when they brought in Brandon Carlo from the Boston Bruins.
They traded guys like Fraser Minten to get him, and they even gave up their first-round pick in 2026. Ultimately, Carlo has been fine, but he hasn't been life-changing for this team.
Now, the Leafs are in a pretty bad losing skid. Carlo is injured, and the Leafs are in last place in the Eastern Conference after losing seven of the last eight games.
After shopping Carlo around during the summer, the team's early struggles have put the focus back on Carlo, and Sportsnet insider Nick Kypreos believes that where there is smoke, there is fire.
Nick Kypreos leans into Brandon Carlo trade rumors
In his new trade board piece for Sportsnet, Kypreos argues that Carlo is certainly a top candidate to be traded, and there are plenty of reasons why teams would want him.
Carlo still has some attraction to other teams. He can log big minutes, is a right shot, still relatively young at 28 years old, and Boston is eating $615,000 of his salary, so he'll count for just $3.485 million - and possibly less if the Leafs retain some of that. Carlo has another season left on his contract, so an acquiring team would get him for two playoff drives. He'll get a lot of respect in the trade market.
Whether or not Carlo actually gets traded still remains to be seen. However, there is no denying that it is looking more likely than not right now.
The Leafs have to do something, and Carlo could help the team acquire assets that would be valuable in a follow-up deal.
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