Leafs newest additions showing mixed bag settling into new environment Maple Leafs feeling a bit of drag as they enter final weeks

With the NHL trade deadline in the rearview mirror, Many teams around the league were able to bolster their rosters making many moves for a deep playoff run.

Three weeks later, many of the deadline additions around the NHL have been able to get acclimated with their teams showing signs of what they can add to help bring home Lord Stanley. 

The Maple Leafs, who happened to be one of the busiest teams during deadline day were able to secure two big names on the Market who have made different impacts for Toronto so far. 

Scott Laughton 

Scott Laughton, who was brought in to be the team’s fresh face at third-line center has not had the best of luck in his first eight games for the Leafs.  

Scott Laughton former #21 of the Philadelphia Flyers currently playing with the Toronto Maple Leafs

Laughton was traded from the Philadelphia Flyers to the Leafs for a 1st round pick, and former Toronto Marlies forward, and crowd favourite Nikita Grebenkin. 

With the Leafs giving up a quality offer, the expectation was for Laughton to be the depth center that the Blue-and-White were in much need of, but so far that hasn’t been the case. 

Laughton has struggled to create any offense going pointless in his first eight games and being a total of -5 in plus-minus.

Laughton has also moved around in the lineup getting multiple chances with a different combination of linemates but unfortunately hasn’t found the right chemistry as of yet. 

The Leafs centerman had a chance to speak about his current form to the media.   

“It’s hard to describe, it’s just different, it’s weird, probably overthinking in some situations,” Laughton said. “More talk, I’ll talk to my linemates more and figure out their tendencies and build on our game and be part of the solution here.”

Even with the early struggles, he has been able to cement himself as one of the Leafs top penalty-killers although the team still sits at 17th, with a below 80 per cent penalty-kill percentage.

Laughton has recently found himself starting games on the fourth line, where he has been able to play his best hockey although still needing to show more.

With this, his average ice time has taken a dip to just over 12 minutes for Toronto, which is down from the 15 minutes he averaged over 60 games with the Philadelphia Flyers.

When it comes to playoffs, Laughton has only played a total of 24 games putting up 10 points, and with a team that has struggled to score when it matters, hopefully, Laughton’s other attributes can help be a contributor.

Only Time will tell if the Maple Leafs acquiring the former Flyer was the right move for playoff success.     

Brandon Carlo 

On the defensive side of things, Brandon Carlo, who Leafs fans might already know a lot about from his Boston days, has fit right into the team being another valuable option on the backend. 

Brandon Carlo, former #25 of the Boston Bruins currently playing with the Toronto Maple Leafs

Carlo was acquired in a trade from the Bruins to the Leafs for a 1st round pick and Fraser Minten, and so far has been worth every penny.

“It’s been good, obviously the guys have made it an easier adjustment, everyone in this room is fantastic,” Carlo said when asked about his time so far with the Leafs. “It was a shock at first but then you kinda realize that you’re living most kids’ dream with playing for the Leafs.”  

After a shaky debut on the road in Colorado, he has been able to cement himself on the first defensive pairing with Morgan Reilly. 

Carlo is more known for the Defensive side of the game but has contributed offensively with one assist in his first eight games. 

Carlo has also been able to contribute to the Penalty kill being one of head coach, Craig Berube’s main guys averaging over two minutes a night. 

The 6-foot-5 defenseman currently averages over 19 minutes a night for the Leafs and that number will not go down any time soon.    

With all these positives to Carlo’s stay-at-home style of game, this will also be able to help his partner, Rielly who has struggled to provide offense all season long. 

help his partner, Rielly who has struggled to provide offense all season long. 

The last time Rielly played with a big defensive defenseman, he was able to put up 12 points in 11 playoff games and be a key factor in the series win against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

The Leafs organization and fans are hoping Carlo could unlock Rielly’s offensive prowess which has not been present this year.   

Carlo brings a ton of veteran and leadership qualities to the Maple Leafs’ dressing room, carrying over from the Boston Bruins playoff success where he was able to appear in the 2019 Stanley Cup Finals.

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Having a player with that experience might turn out to be helpful to a team that only has one playoff-round win in the Matthews era. 

For the rest of the regular season and into the playoffs, Carlo should continue to be a solid option for the Leafs adding to their already strong d-core.  

With the two additions of Carlo and Laughton, both will hopefully be able to help the Leafs come playoff time but like always, the team’s success will only rely on the ones they call the “core four”.  

PHOTO CREDIT – Jack.Smart@prohockeynews.com