TORONTO, March 7, 2025 – The Toronto Maple Leafs announced today, NHL trade deadline day that the hockey club has acquired veteran defenceman Brandon Carlo from the Boston Bruins in exchange for Toronto’s first-round selection in the 2026 NHL Draft (top 5 protected), Philadelphia’s fourth-round selection in 2025 and forward Fraser Minten. The Bruins are retaining 15% of Carlo’s salary.
Imposing 6’5″, Brandon Carlo, 28, brings along a wealth of post-season experience with the Bruins as a stay-at-home defenseman. He has skated in 63 games for Boston this season, registering nine points (one goal, eight assists) and 24 penalty minutes. In 617 career NHL games, the 6’5, 220-pound defenseman has recorded 109 points (29 goals, 80 assists) and 331 penalty minutes while adding 14 points (five goals, nine assists) in 72 playoff games.
The Colorado Spring, CO native was originally drafted by the Boston Bruins in the second round (37th overall) of the 2015 NHL Draft.
Earlier, the Maple Leafs announced the acquisition of forward Scott Laughton, a fourth-round selection in 2025 NHL Draft and a sixth-round selection in the 2027 NHL Draft from the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for Toronto’s first-round selection in the 2027 NHL Draft and forward Nikita Grebenkin. The Flyers are retaining 50% of Laughton’s salary.
Laughton, 30, is a coveted defensive centre who has recorded 27 points (11 goals, 16 assists) in 60 games with the Philadelphia Flyers this season. In 661 career NHL games, the Oakville, ON native has registered 265 points (106 goals, 159 assists) and 386 penalty minutes while adding 10 points (six goals, four assists) in 24 playoff games.
Laughton was originally drafted by the Philadelphia Flyers in the first round (20th overall) of the 2012 NHL Draft.
The new acquisitions for the seemingly playoff bound Leafs will most certainly bolster their lineup and strengthen their defense moving forward through the final 20 games of the season and more importantly in the playoffs. In fact, in his first game with the blue and white against the Avalanche, Brandon Carlo played the most minutes, so that is a good indication that GM Treliving has coach Berube rather pleased with the former Bruin veteran joining the squad.
by Terry Lankstead with notes and images from Toronto Maple Leafs
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