The injury situation in Toronto took another hit Monday morning as the Maple Leafs officially placed defenceman Brandon Carlo on injured reserve. Carlo, who did not play in Saturday’s 3–2 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks, was initially listed as day-to-day. However, the setback was evidently more significant than the team first hoped. While the exact nature of his injury has not been disclosed, his placement on IR ensures he will miss at least one week of action. This is during an already difficult stretch for the Leafs.
Injuries Mounting for the Toronto Maple Leafs
Through 18 games this season, Carlo recorded two assists while averaging just over 20 minutes of ice time. This had him cementing himself as a steady defensive presence on Toronto’s top pair alongside Morgan Rielly . His reliability, penalty killing ability, and calmness under pressure have made him one of the Leafs’ most important defensive pieces. Thus, making his loss yet another major setback for a team already struggling to stay afloat.
Carlo’s Value and the High Cost Toronto Paid to Get Him
Brandon Carlo arrived in Toronto at last season’s trade deadline. He was acquired from the Boston Bruins in a deal that saw the Leafs send their top prospect, Fraser Minten, and a 2026 first-round pick the other way. The move was seen as a long-awaited attempt to secure the type of right-shot, shutdown defender the organization had struggled to obtain throughout much of the Auston Matthews era.
Carlo’s skill set includes a long reach, elite gap control, strong net-front defending, and dependable penalty killing filled a long-standing organizational need. At 6’5” and 220 pounds, he brought size and stability that had been missing from the Leafs’ right side for several seasons. His ability to eat tough minutes allowed Morgan Rielly to push play more confidently in transition, while providing head coach Craig Berube with a dependable matchup option against opposing star players.
The 28-year-old is currently in the final season of his contract, carrying an average annual value of $4.1 million , which makes his absence even more significant as Toronto navigates a tight salary cap and mounting injuries.
Injuries Mount as Toronto’s Season Slips Further
Carlo’s IR designation adds to an already concerning list of missing players. The Leafs are currently without:
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Auston Matthews (lower body)
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Anthony Stolarz (injury)
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Chris Tanev (upper body, IR)
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Scott Laughton (lower body)
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Nicolas Roy (upper body, IR)
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Brandon Carlo (IR placement)
This leaves Toronto without three of its most important defensive contributors, Carlo, Tanev, and Roy, at a moment when their defensive play has cratered.
Through 19 games, the Maple Leafs are 8–9–2 , having lost five straight and allowing an alarming 3.79 goals per game, one of the worst marks in the NHL. Defensive breakdowns, missed assignments, and a lack of structure have been major storylines. Now, losing Carlo only exacerbates those issues.
His absence removes a stabilizing force from a blueline that already lacks consistency. With Carlo and Tanev out, Toronto is forced to rely heavily on depth options and young defenceman in elevated roles, something that has not gone smoothly during their losing streak.
What Carlo’s Absence Means for the Lineup
Without Carlo, the Leafs will need to adjust their top four. Morgan Rielly may see rotating partners, with options including Troy Stecher , Jake McCabe , or Simon Benoit
The ripple effects will be felt on the penalty kill. That’s where Carlo typically logs over 2 minutes per game, and in defensive-zone starts, where his size and positioning are crucial. The Leafs’ defensive identity has already been shaky, and losing Carlo threatens to push it further off course.
Moving Forward
Toronto’s season is quickly approaching a critical point. With key injuries piling up, defensive struggles mounting, and the team sliding down the standings, the Leafs will need to find internal solutions and fast. Brandon Carlo’s absence removes a core stabilizer from their lineup. Also, it adds to the pressure on a group still searching for consistency, structure, and confidence.
Main Photo Credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images
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