Maple Leafs have it all wrong using Brandon Carlo as a scapegoat
Photo credit: Marc DesRosiers-Imagn Images
Statistics show that even though the Toronto Maple Leafs have been a poor defensive team this year, defenseman Brandon Carlo, playing in his first full year in a Maple Leafs sweater, should not be a scapegoat.
It's not been a good year for the Toronto Maple Leafs, and their last loss, 5-2 to the divisional foe Ottawa Senators last night, dropped them for a last place tie in the Atlantic Division.
But as poor as they've been defensively this season, blaming defenseman Brandon Carlo, who is playing in his first full year in a Maple Leafs sweater, has been proven to be unfair.
As proven by Maple Leafs analyst Luke Fox, his plus/minus rating is a positive sign despite Toronto having the worst goal differential in the East, showing that he's not to blame for their defensive woes.
And then there's this nugget, which may surprise some: The Maple Leafs, at minus-29, have the worst goal differential in the Eastern Conference. Carlo (plus-9) is the only Leafs defenceman (minimum 12 games played) who has been on the ice for as many goals for as goals against (36-36), despite starting only 45 per cent of his shifts in the offensive zone. - Luke Fox
Carlo was acquired from the divisional foe Boston Bruins for Fraser Minten and a first round pick in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft.
He has seven assists in 48 games.
Brandon Carlo Is Playing In His First Full Year In A Maple Leafs Sweater
Carlo said that he's learned to block out the criticism and knows it's part of the game, especially in a media market like Toronto.
If you're gonna be in the NHL environment, there's gonna be a lot of things you need to tune out throughout your career. Just put it in the category with most of those things and continue forward. - Brandon Carlo
Carlo was also included in multiple trade rumours leading up to the trade deadline earlier this month even though he was just acquired last year from the Bruins.
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| POLL | ||
MARS 24|157 ANSWERS Maple Leafs have it all wrong using Brandon Carlo as a scapegoat Are Maple Leafs fans being unfair to Brandon Carlo? | ||
| Yes | 99 | 63.1 % |
| No | 58 | 36.9 % |
| List of polls | ||