Blues Trade for Brandon Carlo from Maple Leafs During NHL Draft

The St. Louis Blues made a significant move during the NHL draft, acquiring defenseman Brandon Carlo from the Toronto Maple Leafs. This transaction marks another step in the roster reshuffling for both teams in what has been an eventful offseason.

In exchange for the 29-year-old Carlo, the Blues sent Toronto the Nos. 73 and 76 picks in the draft. Carlo’s tenure with the Maple Leafs was brief, totaling just 88 games after he was acquired from the Boston Bruins. At that time, Toronto traded a first-round pick, a fourth-rounder, and promising forward prospect Fraser Minten to Boston for Carlo at the March 2025 deadline. With a change in management, as new general manager John Chayka took over following the firing of Brad Treliving, the Maple Leafs were fortunate to retain this year’s top pick after winning the lottery.

This trade is the third for St. Louis in a busy week, as they continue to navigate their own transition. With GM-in-waiting Alexander Steen set to take over for veteran executive Doug Armstrong next week, Armstrong has been active in the closing days of his tenure. Earlier this week, he dealt Jordan Kyrou to the Washington Capitals for forward Connor McMichael, prospect Milton Gastrin, and the No. 16 pick, bringing the Blues to a league-high four first-round selections. Then, just a day later, he traded two of those picks to the Anaheim Ducks for 23-year-old Mason McTavish, who is under contract through 2031.

Carlo’s addition brings a level of veteran reliability to St. Louis’ defense, particularly as the team considers trading Colton Parayko or Justin Faulk as part of their roster overhaul. Parayko was previously linked to a deal with the Buffalo Sabres but opted to remain with the Blues by not waiving his no-trade clause.

In response to the trade, the Maple Leafs utilized their acquired picks to select Canadian winger Zach Olsen and Swedish defenseman Mans Gudmundsson, further shaping their future.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.