The NHL trade deadline was a week ago and the Toronto Maple Leafs picked up Brandon Carlo and Scott Laughton. Since then, the Leafs have played three games, against the Colorado Avalanche, Utah HC, and Florida Panthers. Toronto went 1-2-0 in that span, beating Utah in a shootout. The Leafs also had a lead in all three of those outings despite losing them eventually. Until March, Toronto has never given up a lead going into the third period. However, that streak ended and now it seems that they can’t stay on top.
Toronto’s newest additions have played their part in those contests, but haven’t impacted how they’d like.
How Are Carlo and Laughton Doing?
As mentioned, the Maple Leafs have lost two of their last three games. Three games is a small sample size, but a good time to review the performances of Carlo and Laughton in the early stages of their Leafs career. They both made their debuts against the Avalanche in a 7-4 loss. Colorado scored the last five straight goals in this game, including two empty-netters. Carlo and Laughton had their fair share of rough moments in this contest. The players were thrown into a new team system without any practice, some rough patches are to be expected.
Laughton played on the third line in the middle of Max Domi and Bobby McMann. The 30-year-old finished that game with a minus-two rating and had 11:54 of ice time, one of the lowest times he recorded all season. Laughton took responsibility for his performance saying, “I’ll be better,” after the loss to Colorado.
As for Carlo, he had a shaky start too. However, after finding himself in an awkward spot on Vladimir Nichushkin’s second goal of the game, he was able to settle in as the game went on. He finished the game with six blocks and played just over 22 minutes. Carlo helped with the brief loss of Chris Tanev, now they’re both in the lineup together.
After their debuts, the two were able to play more freely against Utah. Laughton looked better in his last two games, linking up with his teammates and showing signs of great speed off the rush.
Their Roles Moving Forward
While Laughton is considered a centre, he spent lots of time on the wing with the Philadelphia Flyers. In Toronto’s last game against the Panthers, Laughton had a few instances on the wing. It’s unclear where Laughton will consistently play leading up to the playoffs. Only time will tell where his role will be in Craig Berube‘s lineup for the rest of the season. His playing style fits Berube’s style of play. He plays with grit and speed that would make him the perfect depth forward when it comes to the postseason.
Carlo will also be a great fit in the playoffs. He plays a heavy game while getting into shooting lanes and eating pucks. Carlo is similar to Tanev when their great defensive play is considered. Also, the 28-year-old has an itch and a hunch to play physically along the boards on the defensive end. Once Carlo gets accustomed to Berube’s defensive zone coverage, he should shine on the blueline for Toronto. The word ‘shine’ is ironic because Carlo’s best game means he’s unnoticeable.
Laughton and Carlo aren’t known for their scoring or offensive threat. However, they are known to play the right way and take pride in their responsibilities behind the puck. The Maple Leafs haven’t been able to hold leads as of late like they used to. The team will hope that these additions will be able to help them get back to their ways during the quest to win the Atlantic Division.
Main Photo Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images
