Brandon Carlo Suffers Setback in Recovery, Adding to Maple Leafs’ Blue Line Woes
The Toronto Maple Leafs are once again dealing with adversity on the injury front, and this time it’s defenceman Brandon Carlo who’s hit a snag in his recovery. Head coach Craig Berube confirmed Monday that Carlo has suffered a setback as he works his way back from a lower-body injury that’s already kept him out of the lineup for over two weeks.
Carlo, who last played on November 13 against the Los Angeles Kings, was placed on injured reserve retroactive to that game. There was some hope he’d be ready to return this week-possibly even as early as Tuesday’s divisional showdown against the Florida Panthers-if he could get through a full practice on Monday.
But that didn’t happen. Carlo wasn’t on the ice, and instead, he’s returned to Toronto to consult with a specialist.
The team expects to have a clearer picture of his status within the next 24 hours.
That’s a tough blow for a Leafs team that’s already been walking a tightrope with its defensive depth. Carlo, 29, may not light up the scoresheet-he’s posted just two assists in 18 games this season-but his value goes far beyond the box score. He’s a steady, physical presence on the back end, capable of logging big minutes and helping stabilize the defensive corps, especially in tough matchups.
Toronto acquired Carlo from the Boston Bruins at last year’s trade deadline, sending Fraser Minten and a top-five protected 2026 first-round pick the other way. The move was made with the postseason in mind, and Carlo’s experience and shutdown ability were seen as key ingredients for a deeper playoff run.
Now, the Leafs are left waiting again, hoping this latest setback doesn’t stretch into something more long-term. The earliest realistic return date appears to be December 6, when Toronto hosts the Canadiens.
In the meantime, the Leafs continue to juggle their lineup. Injuries have been a recurring theme this season, but there was some relief last week when Auston Matthews, Matthew Knies, and Nicolas Roy all returned after missing time.
Chris Tanev, another key piece on the blue line, remains on IR, but Monday brought some positive news: Oliver Ekman-Larsson was back at practice after leaving Saturday’s game against Pittsburgh with an upper-body injury. Simon Benoit also returned to the ice after missing that same game to attend a funeral.
Tuesday’s matchup against the Panthers looms large. It’s a key Atlantic Division battle, and while the Leafs have shown flashes of their potential, staying healthy has been a challenge. With Carlo sidelined again, Toronto’s defensive depth will be tested once more.
This is a team built with high expectations, and while the offense can carry the load on some nights, the Leafs know that come playoff time, they’ll need their blue line intact and in rhythm. For now, they’ll have to keep patching things together and hope Carlo’s latest setback is just a small bump in the road-not a detour.