St. Louis Blues
· 2026-06-28
The St. Louis Blues traded for Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Brandon Carlo.
The Blues sent two third-round picks to Toronto for Carlo.
Doug Armstrong, the team's president and general manager, explained the rationale behind the trade.
Armstrong said Carlo's size, length, and experience will help the team.
The Blues are currently 9th in the Western Conference with a 37-33 record and on a W4 streak as of June 28, 2026.
Carlo's addition will allow the team to have four experienced players on defense.
This includes Philip Broberg, Colton Parayko, and Cam Fowler.
The Blues were looking to strengthen their defense and improve their competitiveness.
Carlo is expected to play on the team's defensive second pair and be relied on as a strong, stay-at-home defenseman.
He will help block shots and use his size to keep forwards away from Blues goalie Jordan Binnington.
The trade is seen as a win-win for both teams, with Carlo looking for a fresh start in St. Louis.
And the Blues getting a experienced defenseman without paying a hefty price.
The team only sent a pair of third-round picks to pick him up and take on the final year of his contract.
But Carlo's contract pays him $4.1 million next year.
So the Blues are hoping he will return to form and help the team improve.
The Blues did not have to give up much to get Carlo, which is a positive for the team.
Carlo was a bust in Toronto after spending the first 8.5 years of his NHL career with the Bruins.
He was known as one of the best defensive defensemen in the league during his time with the Bruins.
But he did not play well for Toronto, setting a franchise record for the most games played without scoring a goal.
The Blues are hoping he will have a fresh start in St. Louis and return to his old form.