As Game 3 has come and gone in the Eastern Conference Finals, we continue to inch nearer to the summer and the Boston Bruins having to sign their restricted free agents to new contracts. The next of the three big names to cover is one of the best defensive defensemen in the league in Brandon Carlo.
Brandon Carlo has built up his reputation in these 2019 playoffs as he has been the guy that Boston Bruins’ head coach, Bruce Cassidy can trust with the game on the line on the defensive end. In Carlo’s first opportunity at post-season play, he has become the force on the defensive end that so many believed he could be someday.
In the second round of the playoffs against the Columbus Blue Jackets, it became clear that Brandon Carlo would be paired with Artemi Panarin on the other side, expected to be the one who could attempt to shut down the dynamic winger.
It showed in the series-altering Game 5 in Boston, when he would step up on Panarin and take the puck away from him, leading to the game-winner by David Pastrnak in the same series of play.
With his next level of play on the biggest stage, it now points to the question of what his next contract will look like. Carlo will not light up the score sheet by any means; 2 goals and 8 assists in the regular season for the Boston Bruins. However, a +22 plus/minus will prove that he is one of the best defenders in the league despite the change to more offensive for the defensive position.
The best comparison to what Brandon Carlo’s contract may look like is by looking at the contract extension of Marc Methot back in 2015. Methot signed a four-year, $19.6 million contract as one of the few defensive defensemen around. While Methot signed his extension around the age of 29, what makes sense here is the style of play and what they do for their team.
It is incredibly believable to see Brandon Carlo receive an annual average of $4.9 million or maybe even $5 million because of his style of play that Methot channels as well. Methot had only topped 20 points once prior to his contract extension with a solid plus/minus many years in a row.
At the age of 22, Carlo could get a short deal to try and cash back in at a later date, but what is for sure is that the Boston Bruins and Brandon Carlo will want to find a common ground and $4.9 million sounds completely reasonable.
Time will tell but Brandon Carlo is only earning a bigger and better contract every game he performs at the top level. No one may be thinking about it just yet whilst we all enjoy the ride, but decision time will come and offering Carlo a solid deal will be priority number two for the Boston Bruins this off-season.