Toronto thought they won this trade…They didn’t
There are trades that explode across the hockey world like fireworks, the kind that dominate panels, melt down sports radio, and have fans refreshing Twitter every 10 seconds. And then there are the trades that slide across the ticker with a raised eyebrow, a shrug, and a “let’s see how this plays out.”
The Brandon Carlo trade between the Boston Bruins and the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2025 was firmly in that second category, at least at first.
At the time, it looked like a classic hockey trade. Toronto got a proven, playoff-tested shutdown defenseman in Brandon Carlo. Boston got a package headlined by a young forward prospect in Fraser Minten, plus a first-round pick and a fourth-round pick. No generational names. No instant jersey sales spike. Just pieces.
Fast forward one season, though, and that “reasonable” trade looks a lot different.
Because as the dust settled, as the games piled up, and as the numbers started telling a deeper story, one thing became painfully clear for Leafs fans and deliciously obvious for Bruins Diehards:
Boston didn’t just win this trade. They fleeced Toronto.
#nhlbruins #bostonbruins #bostonbruinsnews #torontomapleleafs
Time Stamp
Intro 00:00
Who Brandon Carlo Was 1:51
The Initial Fan Reaction 3:24
Minten’s Fit in Toronto 4:13
How the Bruins saw Minten 5:06
First Impressions 5:41
Minten’s Start with the Bruins 6:22
What Coaches Saw 6:59
Minten Thriving 7:33
The Quiet Bonus 7:56
What the Future Holds 8:26
Verdict 9:02
Outro 10:52
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35 Comments
Do you think the Bruins fleeced the Toronto Maple Leafs?
In a situation like this where right now, the trade is overwhelmingly in the B's favor, I wonder what Carlo thinks and feels? Does hearing hearing the glowing reports on Minten and seeing his name on stat sheets place additional preasure on him to live up to the expectations the Make Believes wanted when they traded for him?
Minten looks like a 200ft, pass first 2C, hope he can keep developing and links up with a fast, shoot first winger to ride shotgun
Great video and analysis.. I was thinking Carlo trade was bad, but it definitely was about timing.
I know you don't see the Bruins moving Zacha, but I really think Minten is going to force their hand. The Bruins have an embarrassment of riches at center. I don't think it's smart for the Bruins to sign him for more than 2-3 years. And if I were Zacha, I would want term.
You forgot to mention that, for a big guy, Carlo has always been soft as baby shit. He fits right in with the Maple Laughs
Good points raised here. I think there was a little bit of luck in all this that should never be discounted – especially in hockey. You might be giving Sweeney too much credit. There was a time the bruins squandered talent – Thornton, Seguin to name a couple. Regardless, your contrast regarding “player expectation”, (the desperate Leafs MO) as opposed to “player development” in the Bruins structure is bang on. I give that credit to the Bruins mgmt for knowing it, executing it, and sticking to it. This got us a cup back when they were developing Marchi, Bergi, Chara, Krejci, Tukkka, and I shouldn’t have started to name them……
In the end, it’s why I have been a bruins fans for over 60 years. Go B’s!
What is also lost in this trade is the bruins are on the hook for 25% of carlos remaining contract. Small price to pay for that extra 1st rd pick/4th # bladar😂
The Bruins timing on this trade is priceless. They got Toronto in a down year, that first round pick is going to yield an even greater future asset, especially if the Leafs miss the playoffs and finish higher that 6th in the league standings. Trust me, you don't want Cowan, he is the anthithesis of Minten. Cowan is a turnover machine in the defensive zone, not good defensively in all phases of the game. Minten is going to be your next David Krejci at worst !
And this analysis is coming from a proven Leaf hater and Blackhawk ( 17 SECONDS ) fan !!
To be fair to the Leafs, their intention wasn't to win the trade long-term wise. They thought, that they were contenders (yeah, I know, but they did think so), and needed to bolster their D "now" for a deep push. Looking at their C, they had Matthews, Tavares, Kämpf etc. Minten was never going to compete for top 1C or 2C within the next couple of years, and 3C or 4C aren't that hard to come by in the NHL.
It was a gamble on their part, and I'm pretty sure that Shannahan & co knew that full well. They lost the gamble.
So it's a case of darned if you do, darned if you don't. If they kept Minten on the books, and flopped anyway, the Ontario media and fans would have eaten the front office alive for not utilizing a trade asset in order to boost their playoff chances. If they managed to squeeze past Florida, the management would have looked like geniuses. But cue in their traditional game 7 collapse…
It's a thankless job, being in a management position in such an psycho market like Toronto (or Montreal for that matter). I'd rather clean toilets at a train station for a living, than expose myself to that kind of relentless abuse.
And I say all that as someone, who relishes in his annual schadenfreude from just another Leafs' collapse.
If Toronto calls, answer it😊
Podcast on Sweeney's 10 years – from 2015 draft to current. Hated, maligned, revered in league circles, and wanted by 26 nhl teams. 10 years is a good retrospective time.
Carlo should have been traded two yrs earlier.
If Toronto shits the bed, that 1st pick is top 5 protected.
Minten is a gift that only comes along once in a lifetime. Hopefully Sweeney doesn't package him in a deal for a higher named player.
Minten can be the next Bergeron.
Sure do lol…
Bruins fans when someone brings up Fraser Minten: 😍🤩🥰
Do you think the front office will definitely move Zacha now because they believe Minten will be able to take his place? Zacha is a swiss army knife and he would leave a lot of holes exposed in the Bruins hull if he goes, and with the team playing well I think it would be too big a blow to the room to move him, but I'm a fan- it's my job to fall in love with the players.
Great analysis as always and can't wait for the next one!
Like usual Don want make wild trades that work out. He just needs to hit on the draft and that's what is keeping us back from making deep playoff runs.
At time of trade , did Boston want Cowan more or was Minten the guy the always wanted
I think we got fleeced on the other hand by Florida. They took a legendary player and stole a another Stanley Cup. They could have gave us something in return instead they just swiped our player and left us without anything in return… oh or prospect. It’s was insulting. At least Colorado gave us Zellers for Coyle. After that I made Florida my most hated team even more than Toronto or Montreal.
1) – I would have given Carlo away for free 2) I hate the constant negative/positive word padsding
Leaf fan here…and yes, you have convinced me…
Steve Dangle knew, lol. He whined about loosing Minten as soon as the trade was made. Still whining today. He brings up losing Minten constantly. That was my first clue that Minten might be good. I admit I was butt hurt they kept Minten over Poitras out of training camp but Minten has been getting better as the season progresses.
Last game Minten gets moved up to the second line and has a 3 point night. Poitras get's the call up, plays on the 3rd line and acquits himself quite nicely. No points but played well with 5 shots, robbed on one and ends the game with attitude. Only one game admittedly, but I can see a future where fill center positions on the Bruins. I hope the Bruins don't copy the Leafs and move a promising player for a mistake. Leafs made a huge mistake trading for Carlo and they are paying for it now. I was happy to see him go. Anything to hurt the Leafs, lol
Now if only we could talk them into taking Lohrei.
MInten on the 2034 Canadian team would be hillarious.
He probably had to be amazing at D practicing with Bédard and celibrini
I've already said this in November Minten could possibly be a captain of this team in the future.
I think a lot of these players are playing for their roster spot especially guys like Arvidsson, Mittlestadt and even Zacha. They know they’re likely not in the Bs long term plans but seem to like playing enough here that they are making harder to move off of them. As you said, if it makes the Bs better, they are all on the table.
As always great analysis Thank u Toronto for Minty .
Anytime we beat Toronto is a big win for me. Whether it's on or off the ice. I wasn't very disappointed when Carlo left because as you pointed out, he was always getting injuries the last few years and how good is a player if they aren't playing?
And that 4th rounder turned into Vashek Blanar, a promising D. Well done, Sweeney (I am very critical of him so it's fair enough to praise him when he deserves it). Can we project a future with all 3 of them (Hagens, Minten & Poitras), I wouldn't mind to have all 3 in any position on the top 9, or do you think Poitras is the odd man out – a trade piece? Cheers
I agree… fleeced. Leafs fan here. The first round pick is top-5 protected. The way the Leafs are playing this year, the trade might push that out to 2028. I don't think the leafs will finish that far down this year so Boston will get a good first-round pick.
I’ve enjoyed watching him play this season! Loved his goals against the leaves this year. Excited for his growth
I've been saying this for MONTHS!
Poitra is getting traded withkorpi as a cap compensator .,. What's up with ullmark in Ottawa?
Hard to believe there are dumber front offices than the Bs, but clearly the Leave's office is.
minten has no weaknesses in his game.a huge pick up by sweeney+a 1st&a 4th-are you kidding me.minten need to be upgraded to no. 1 center and put him on the power play, and demote soft Elias Lindholm to 2nd or 3rd line center!
Frasier Minten and Maret Khusnutdinov are players the Bruins acquired last year at the trade deadline who will be impact players for the B's for, hopefully, years to come. Minten embodies the intelligent, hardworking, thinking center that has been the driving force on competitive Bruins teams for decades. Examples of these players are, obviously, Bergeron and Krejci recently but older examples are Milt Schmidt, Bill Cowley and Adam Oates. Minten's hockey sense is almost off the charts and this is illustrated by his ability to thrive in different situations, e.g power play and penalty kill included. Khusnutdinov combines speed, tenacity (Watch him in puck battles on the boards.) and a great presence in the offensive zone. The future looks bright for these 2 new Bruins players.