St. Louis Blues acquire defenseman Brandon Carlo from Maple Leafs for two third-round picks

Trade details

The St. Louis Blues sent the 73rd and 76th overall picks in Saturday's draft to Toronto in exchange for the 29-year-old Carlo. The Maple Leafs used those selections on Canadian winger Zach Olsen and Swedish defenseman Mans Gudmundsson. The move was the third trade this week for the Blues, who are retooling under an outgoing general manager.

Leafs recoup minimal value

Toronto's return was a sharp decline from the cost paid to acquire Carlo in March 2025: a first-round pick, a fourth-rounder, and highly regarded center prospect Fraser Minten. “It’s obviously hugely disappointing from an asset management standpoint,” wrote The New York Times, noting that the 2025 trade, now bookended by two picks in the 70s only 15 months later, has the makings of a debacle. New general manager John Chayka, hired weeks ago, is overhauling the Leafs’ defence with a focus on mobility and puck-moving, skills not associated with Carlo’s game. He had already shipped out Simon Benoit and brought in Darren Raddysh and Emil Andrae.

Carlo’s injury-shortened season

The 6-foot-5, 230-pound blueliner managed just 55 games for Toronto in 2025-26, recording seven assists. He missed 23 games with an ankle injury that required surgery after an infection developed from a blocked shot. Across 692 career regular-season games with Boston and Toronto, Carlo has 119 points and a plus-137 rating. He is signed through 2026-27 at a cap hit of $3.48 million, with the Bruins having retained salary in the original deal.

Blues defensive reshuffle

Doug Armstrong, in his final days as Blues general manager before handing the role to Alexander Steen, has been active. On Tuesday he traded Jordan Kyrou to Washington for Connor McMichael, a prospect, and the No. 16 pick. On Friday he sent two first-rounders to Anaheim for 23-year-old center Mason McTavish, signed through 2031. Carlo adds a dependable, right-shot presence on a blue line that could see Colton Parayko or Justin Faulk moved this summer. The Blues are banking that playing under Jim Montgomery, Carlo’s former coach in Boston, will help him rebound.

What’s next

The trade opens $3.5 million in cap space for Toronto heading into free agency, and Chayka may still deal Morgan Rielly as he remakes the top four. For St. Louis, the acquisition of Carlo provides veteran stability as the team transitions to new leadership.