Boston Bruins Set To Replace Brandon Carlo With Former First-Overall Draft Pick

Don Sweeney has to replace Carlo this off-season, and The Hockey News has revealed three potential defenseman that the Bruins could target in the off-season to replace Carlo.

If Aaron Ekblad hits the free agent market on July 1st, he is going to be the most sought after defenseman, and if the Bruins can land him that will be a huge pick up for the organization. Ekblad was drafted first-overall in the 2014 Draft, and is able to provide some solid offense while also being physical and working on both special-teams.

Ekblad would give the Bruins a insane one-two punch with him and Charlie McAvoy on the right side, and won a Stanley Cup with the Florida Panthers. He would bring in a lot of playoff experience.

Fabbro isn't a big named player like Ekblad, after being claimed off waivers by the Blue Jackets, he went on to put up new career highs in goals with nine, assists with 17, points with 26, and a plus-23 rating in just 62 games.

He would be a perfect partner on the second pairing with Lindholm as the former first-round pick showed that he can be a dependable two-way defenseman.

Gavrikov would be another defenseman the Bruins can replace Carlo with if he hits the free agent market on July 1st. Even though he is a left-shot defenseman, he played on the right side for most of the 2024-25 season. In all 82 games this season, he scored five goals, 30 points, 140 blocks and was a plus-26.

He would immediately end up becoming a key part of the Bruins penalty kill, and would fit in well with the Bruins top four.