All stats courtesy of hockeyreference.com
Next up on my list is defenseman Brandon Carlo. Carlo played in 72 games for the Bruins last season, in which he produced two goals and eight assists. He also appeared in 24 playoff games for the team, which were the first of his NHL career due to injuries at the very end of his first two seasons, through which he produced two goals and two assists. Drafted in the second round (37th overall) of the 2015 NHL Entry Draft by the Bruins, Carlo has appeared in 230 career NHL games, over which he has produced eight goals and 24 assists. The 22-year-old defenseman has only played for the Bruins over his three season NHL career.
At just 22 years old, Carlo is rapidly becoming a premier shutdown defenseman in the league. He is the clear successor to Zdeno Chara as the team’s top shutdown and penalty-killing defenseman, and some would say he has become at the former already. He drastically improved upon his rocky sophomore campaign last season, and he should only continue to improve from here. He is the perfect complement to Torey Krug, as what the one lacks the other makes up for, be it size, offense, or occasionally in the case of Krug, defense. Carlo is also a strong skater and while he doesn’t put up many points, he is still capable of jumping into an offensive rush and driving play from the back-end. And, when he does score, it tends to be at opportune times. He lets the play come to him as well and is quick to adapt to the pace of the game. Finally, he’s a big body, listed at 6’5” and 212 pounds, and while he could be more physical and will likely get so, he’s shown that he knows and is willing to use his size to his advantage when necessary. It isn’t smart to only have offensive-minded defenseman in my opinion, and you need at least one strong shutdown defender if you truly want to contend for the Stanley Cup. Carlo appears to be just that for the Bruins now and in the future.
As for what to expect from Carlo next season, I would say we’ll see a very similar player as we did last season. Before I get into it too much though, yes I am aware he is still without a contract, but it is well-known both he and the team are seeking a long-term contract and that it will get done eventually. So, I’m just going to talk about him like it has already happened. Personally, I think we may see a few more points out of Carlo next season as the coaches are working with him on jumping up in the offensive rush more. That tends to lead to more points, at least in assists, so while he will never be an offensive-minded defenseman, we may get a few more points out of him this year. Even if we don’t, it doesn’t really matter, and he will likely continue to improve upon his already very strong defensive play. Carlo will always be a stay-at-home defenseman, which as I said every team needs, and fans should expect no different than that next season. If they do, they will surely be disappointed, as one of Carlo’s best attributes it knowing his strengths and always playing to them. In his case, he is at his best in a stay-at-home defensive role, which is more than okay, especially if he stays paired with Krug.
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