Maple Leafs have just pushed another player on the trade block

The Toronto Maple Leafs are in the middle of a busy offseason under GM John Chayka, and the moves keep coming. With the NHL Draft just days away and the roster still in flux, another name has surfaced in league-wide trade discussions. This time, it is a towering right-shot defenseman who was once brought in to be a stabilizing force on the back end, but whose role has been quietly shrinking as new pieces fall into place.

That player is Brandon Carlo, the 6-foot-5 blueliner who arrived in Toronto via a trade deadline deal with the Boston Bruins back in 2025. According to recent reports by Chris Johnston, Carlo's name has come up in conversations with multiple teams, and the Leafs are seeking several mid-range draft picks in return.

The roots of this development trace back to a flurry of roster decisions over the past week. Toronto recently completed a sign-and-trade with the Tampa Bay Lightning that brought in right-shot defenseman Darren Raddysh, who is now locked into an eight-year contract. On top of that, the organization expects veteran Chris Tanev to return healthy for next season after missing 71 games due to injury in the most recent campaign. Tanev still has four years remaining on his deal.

Those two commitments effectively box out the ice time Carlo would have otherwise received. With Raddysh and Tanev both slotted in on the right side of the blue line for the foreseeable future, there simply is not enough room for Carlo, who carries a $3.49 million cap hit with just one year left on his contract. The likelihood of Toronto extending him appears slim given the organizational direction.

When the Leafs originally acquired Carlo from Boston, they paid a significant price that included prospect Fraser Minten and a first-round pick. He delivered solid results during that initial stretch run and into the 2025 playoffs, helping to shore up a defense that needed reinforcement. However, his performance dipped last season, making the decision to explore his trade value a logical next step.

Chayka reportedly has multiple irons in the fire as he works to reshape the Leafs' defensive corps. Notably, the situation with Morgan Rielly remains unchanged for now. Rielly holds a no-move clause, but has recently submitted a list of preferred destinations if a deal is struck to move him out of Toronto.

Despite his recent regression, Carlo still profiles as an attractive trade target around the league. A 10-year veteran who stands 6-foot-5 and shoots right is exactly the type of defenseman that generates demand, particularly from teams looking to add size and defensive reliability. The Leafs are reportedly asking for multiple mid-round picks, a price that reflects both Carlo's value and his contract status as a one-year rental.

According to Chris Johnston, Carlo’s name has recently emerged in trade talks with some suitors and could return multiple mid-range picks.

With the draft approaching on Friday and trade activity heating up across the NHL, it would not be surprising to see a Carlo deal materialize sooner rather than later.