St. Louis Blues Acquire Brandon Carlo from Maple Leafs for Two 2026 Third-Round Picks – Hockey Writers – NHL News

St. Louis Blues added a veteran to their blue line this morning, acquiring defenseman Brandon Carlo from the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for two 2026 third-round draft picks, Nos. 73 and 76 overall.

Carlo, 29, arrives in St. Louis as a long-time NHL defenseman known for his defensive reliability, use of the penalty kill, and ability to handle heavy minutes against top competition. The deal gives the Blues an experienced right-handed shooting option as they continue to reshape their defensive structure heading into the next phase of building the system.

The Blues entered Day 2 of the 2026 NHL Draft holding three third-round picks at No. 73, 75, and 76 before submitting two of them to the agreement. Carlo has one year left on a six-year, $24.6 million contract with a $3.485 million cap hit and is owed $3.25 million in salary.

The trade also reunites Carlo with Blues head coach Jim Montgomery, under whom he previously played during their time with the Boston Bruins. That familiarity could help ease his transition to a defensive team that has undergone major changes in recent seasons.

Last season with Toronto, Carlo appeared in 55 regular season games, recording seven assists while working primarily in a shutdown role. His usage has focused on defending in his own position, pairing up with top six forwards, and helping stabilize penalty-kill situations instead of contributing offensively.

Originally selected by the Boston Bruins in the second round, 37th overall, of the 2015 NHL Draft, the Colorado Springs native built a reputation over 10 NHL seasons as a steady, stay-at-home defenseman. Throughout his career with Boston and Toronto, Carlo has played 692 regular season games, totaling 119 points (29 goals, 90 assists) and a plus-137 average.

His value has translated into the postseason, where he has appeared in 85 playoff games. Carlo posted 14 points (five goals, nine assists) in that appearance while remaining reliable in pressing defensive situations. His size at 6-foot-5 and 227 pounds has made him a consistent presence in front of the net and a physical blocker in tight playoff matchups.

In St. Louis, the acquisition cost comes in the form of undrafted cash, with the club moving two of three 2026 third-round picks. The move significantly reduces the Blues’ mid-draft flexibility, but it also brings in an established NHL defenseman who can quickly step into a regular role with little to no development time.

His arrival also impacts the team’s defensive depth chart, which includes Colton Parayko, Philip Broberg, Cam Fowler, Theo Lindstein, Tyler Tucker, and Logan Mailloux. It also raises questions about how Matthew Kessel fits into the mix as a restricted free agent with arbitration rights.

If Adam Jiricek isn’t ready for a full-time NHL career, Carlo provides St. Louis with a proven option to stabilize the right side while allowing smaller defenders to develop at a more controlled pace.

For Toronto, the trade adds additional draft money and opens up roster flexibility on the blue line as the organization continues to evaluate its defensive depth going forward.

This initiative continues the busy journey of St. Louis, which has shown a willingness to use draft picks to bring in established NHL talent.