Brandon Carlo, Scott Laughton takes ice for the first time as Leafs, and ‘Emotions were high’

Denver – On Friday afternoon, Brandon Carlo was in the sun of Tampa, Florida, convinced that he was going to stay with the Boston Bruins. The 28 -year -old defender was talking with his wife, Mayson, since the clock advanced around 3:00 pm et and the NHL’s commercial deadline was about to come and go.

“I remember making a comment that, maybe after 3 o’clock, I don’t know if they can call me more,” said Carlo. “I was wrong there, sure.”

Minutes later, the general manager of Bruins, Don Sweeney, called Carlo, informing him that he had to pack his bags. He would not join the Bruins, the only team for which Carlo has played, on his trip to Fort Lauderdale to play against the Florida Panthers. Instead, he headed north to Denver to join the rival of the Bruins, the Toronto Maple Leafs.

“It was a difficult call to have, sure,” Carlo acknowledged, his eyes opened as he looked beyond the Maple Leafs wardrobe, trying to process one of the most tumultuous days of his NHL career.

After the call, the Native of Colorado Springs packed his suitcases to return to his native state. His father, Lenny, left his plans to go to Ball Arena and provide a family face in the most unknown days.

“I was giving me some eyes in the warm -up, such as’ Wow, this seems strange,” said Carlo.

Strange could be euphemism.

Welcome to a whirlwind and an emotional day for the leafs who saw their two acquisitions of high profile, Carlo and Center Scott Laughton’s deadline, uproot their lives, traveled through a country and play an afternoon game for their new team against one of the best of the NHL.

The emotions arrived high during the fast rhythm game on Saturday, since the Leafs gave a 4-2 advantage in the second period to lose 7-4. All the time, Laughton and Carlo were evident were trying to wrap their heads around the drastic changes in their lives.

“It’s hard to describe,” Laughton said after the game. “It’s different. Strange. I was probably thinking too much (the game) in certain situations. “

On Friday afternoon, Laughton was on the practice track of the Flyadelfia Flyers. He did not practice with his former team, probably aware that he was moving. It had been linked to Leafs before the exchange deadline. When Laughton received a quick call from the general manager of the Flyers, Danny Briere in the middle of the day, to inform him that he had been changed to Toronto, he was still surprised.

“The emotions were high yesterday,” he said. “I grew up in Philadelphia.”

He said his farewell to teammates. A Flyers teammate, Defense Erik Johnson was particularly upset by Laughton’s exchange. Laughton still went home to see his wife and quickly pack. Later that afternoon, I was on a flight to Denver, not knowing when it would return exactly.

Throughout the trip to the airport, the native of Oakville, Ontario, was excited by his family.

“I just thought that my dad could lead to my games. I think it’s a great sensation, ”said Laughton.

When he arrived at the airport, he knew that Johnson had been changed to the Colorado avalanche of all teams. That meant that Laughton and Johnson would take the same fly of Philadelphia and share their confusion of what would happen later.

Carlo’s experience was alarmingly similar. He knew that his former Bruins teammate, Charlie Coyle, was also being changed, but still brought different cars to the airport. However, they ended on the same Tampa flight, towards different teams and new lives.

“We were next to each other,” said Carlo. “It was comforting, in a way, keep going with him too.”

Both players later entered the favorite before a game day. Each had a brief meeting with the Leafs coaching staff before the game.

And both players took a moment for themselves when they put on the blue and white t -shirts.

“An incredible feeling, pulling that shirt on my head for the first time,” Laughton said. “I am very grateful to be here with this special group and help them.”

Perhaps as expected, it was a mixed results of Laughton and Carlo results in his first game with the Leafs.

Carlo was paired with Morgan Riely. The Leafs hope that after another season of rotating defense partners for the oldest sheet, Carlo’s strong defensive approach can help Riellly.

“There is much to learn from (Riely),” said Carlo. “And I hope we can create a good association.”

Carlo did not always look like the player who was usually at the right points and would make the intelligent and defensive sound reproduce like a Bruin against the Leafs. On the other hand, as when he tried to block the shot of Avalanche Brock Nelson striker with his hand directly in front of the goal and crashed into Leafs’s goalkeeper, Anthony Stolarz, in the process he stood out.

The unbridled emotions of the day clearly affected their game.

“A little foreign at the beginning,” Carlo said about his game. He acknowledged that he could have better staying inside the ice early.

“As I advanced, I felt that my holes improved,” he said.

And Carlo did it, indeed, he settled as the game progressed. It was in its most composite and effective form while helping to kill two penalties in the second period. The avalanche has one of the best power plays in the league, making Carlo’s work and positioning even even more remarkable. His 22:04 was the highest ice time of all Leafs players.

Laughton was deployed between Max Domi and Bobby Mcmann. The hope was that Laughton’s defensive game would provide balance to the offensive inclinations of Domi and Mcmann. The line ended with 46 percent of the five against the expected objectives, for a trick of natural statistics.

Laughton was not always remarkable or energetic to the defensive. The consistent time of the offensive zone of the avalanche against the Leafs cannot and should not be fixed solely in Laughton. However, there were still multiple opportunities of avalanche score for which Laughton could have been more aggressive to defend himself. A frustrated appearance said that “he has become much better” to show in his game.

“I think I can provide more,” said Laughton.

More talks were needed between him and his linemates, Laughton said. That is probably expected. But what Laughton showed after the game was the type of steel resolution to which the previous teammates have praised him. He wants to “be part of the solution.”

None of the players played with their standards, but how could they? Consider the many factors that work against them: their normal game day routines were launched along the way. Their bodies had to adapt to a two -hour time change. They had no opportunity to practice or even have a morning skate. And both handled the uncertainty that comes with having to live from a suitcase for the moment.

“They were fine,” said the chief coach of the Leafs, Craig Berube, about his new players. “I know (Laughton) was in a couple of goals against, but in general, I didn’t care. I thought Carlo was good. He did his job. It is not easy (jump) without practice, but they have been around a long time. You need a little time to form chemistry and solve everything. “

It is fair to assume that each one will improve as they get more games with the leafs under their belts. They will have to do it. The Leafs are now without victories in their last three games.

And so, the window to get their lives and games in order will be short. That is the reality of being moved on the deadline for exchange. It is a reality with which both players are still dealing.

After the loss of avalanche, Carlo threw himself to see the family faces of his family and listen to some soothing words.

And near the bowels of Ball Arena, Laughton remained on the court with new avalanche players Johnson and Brock Nelson, they also negotiated before the deadline.

While talking, the three continually shook their heads, without a doubt trying to specify their minds around the strange world in which they had found themselves.

(Photo by Brandon Carlo and Arturi Lehkonen: Isaiah J. Downing / Imagn images)