Not much has gone Auston Matthews and the Toronto Maple Leafs’ way in the 2025-26 NHL season. In the middle of a crucial road trip, bad news have been confirmed by head coach Craig Berube on one veteran on the team.

Brandon Carlo’s production has been greatly hindered by availability and physical issues this NHL season. So far, the defenseman has appeared in 18 games, missing 7 of the Leafs’ 25 outings in the 2025–26 campaign. However, the absences tally will only rise, as Berube confirmed Carlo won’t join Matthews and company to close out the Buds’ six-game road trip.

“Craig Berube says Brandon Carlo has suffered a setback in his recovery from a lower-body injury and returned to Toronto,” as reported by TSN’s Mark Masters on X (formerly Twitter).

Carlo’s stats in the 2025-26 NHL season

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