Leafs’ Brandon Carlo (Getty Images) The news of Brandon Carlo’s long term absence hit Toronto like a punch to the gut. Carlo has been one of Craig Berube’s most trusted defensive pieces, and losing him as he prepares for surgery leaves a void that is not just tactical but emotional. Following the troubling news about Maple Leafs defenseman Brandon Carlo, the team may have been presented with a good opportunity to add a 6-foot-6 defenseman. This is where timing intersects with opportunity, and the conversation shifts to a name that had drifted off the radar until now.The Toronto Maple Leafs may need some help on the blueline following Brandon Carlo’s long term injury and that may have suddenly opened the door for Jarred Tinordi to re-enter the NHL picture. Tinordi, the towering defenceman who underwent offseason knee surgery, was cleared last week and is hopeful to resume his career, according to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman. For a Leafs group suddenly thin on reliable size and toughness, the timing could not be better.Jarred Tinordi could give Craig Berube a rugged stopgapTinordi’s appeal is not about replacing Carlo’s poise or minutes. He brings something else. At six foot six, Tinordi brings the kind of length and physical presence that Berube values, especially during stretches when the team gets hemmed in its own zone. His play is direct. He defends hard areas. He is predictable in the ways coaches appreciate. If healthy, he may help Toronto win net front battles and clear chaos around the crease, areas that often expose the Leafs when undermanned.As Friedman indicated, the 31-year-old spent last season with the AHL’s Calgary Wranglers, and before that, logged 52 NHL games with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2023-24. His road back has been steady, not flashy, and the Leafs suddenly have reason to take a closer look. Fans understand the situation. Carlo’s loss is massive, but internal reinforcements are limited, and Tinordi’s clearance provides a new option without forcing an immediate trade.The Leafs will still explore upgrades, and salary structure matters. He’ll also likely come cheap, which is something that matters in a salary cap world, though it bears mentioning that the Leafs will have more than $3M freed up once Carlo lands on LTIR. For now, Tinordi represents something simple but valuable. Another body. Another style. And another chance to steady a blue line searching for its footing.Also Read: How will Brandon Carlo’s long-term injury impact the Maple Leafs this season?
