Toronto Maple Leafs' blueline appears to have suffered two blows in Wednesday’s overtime loss to the Detroit Red Wings.
Defenceman Oliver Ekman-Larsson suffered a lower-body injury which forced him to exit the game, while TSN Hockey Insider Chris Johnston reports there’s concern Brandon Carlo tweaked something in the loss as well.
Carlo, who returned earlier this month after undergoing lower-body surgery, logged 20:56 of ice time against the Red Wings. He has four assists in 27 games this season while averaging 19:47 of ice time.
Johnston reports Ekman-Larsson is expected to miss some time with the injury, although the exact prognosis is unclear. TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun reports that the injury is not expected to impact Ekman-Larsson’s availability for Team Sweden at the Olympics.
“I’ll know more tomorrow,” head coach Craig Berube told the media postgame of the Swedish blueliner.
The hits keep coming to the #leafs blue line: Not only did Oliver Ekman-Larsson leave last night's game with a lower-body issue that is expected to cause him to miss some time, but there's concern Brandon Carlo tweaked something as well.
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) January 22, 2026
Ekman-Larsson went to the dressing room midway through the first period and did not return to the game, he was eventually ruled out for the rest of the contest.
The 34-year-old took five shifts, played 1:50 of the opening period and did not record a point before leaving the game.
He has appeared in 50 games this season for the Leafs and has eight goals and 23 assists with a plus-8 rating.
The Maple Leafs have dealt with injuries on defence throughout the season with Chris Tanev’s season potentially over after just 11 games and only Ekman-Larsson, Morgan Rielly, Jake McCabe and Simon Benoit dressing in at least 35 games so far.
As for Sweden, the nation is already dealing with injuries to Ekman-Larsson’s Maple Leaf teammate William Nylander, as well as Tampa Bay Lightning defenceman Victor Hedman, Pittsburgh Penguins’ Erik Karlsson, Colorado Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog and Minnesota Wild centre Joel Eriksson Ek.
Sweden is proceeding as if it won't have Brodin and Carlsson. Won't announce replacement players until closer to the Olympics. Also because there may be more players to replace. Sweden still hopeful on Hedman, Landeskog, Karlsson, Nylander, Eriksson Ek. https://t.co/i9p2EK11O0
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) January 21, 2026
Sweden’s national team head coach Sam Hallam announced on Tuesday that two members of the squad, Minnesota Wild defenceman Jonas Brodin and Anaheim Ducks forward Leo Carlsson are unlikely to play at The Winter Olympics.
