On June 27, 2026, the 2026 NHL Entry Draft in Buffalo, New York saw two notable moves involving the Montreal Canadiens and the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Canadiens used a Day 2 selection to add forward Timofei Runtso to their organization, while the Leafs completed a trade that sent defenseman Brandon Carlo to the St. Louis Blues in return for two third‑round draft picks.
The draft, now in its second day, continues to shape the rosters of all participating clubs. Montreal’s choice of Runtso marks the team’s effort to bolster its prospect pool as the league’s entry draft progresses. The selection was made during the scheduled Day 2 rounds, where teams typically focus on filling depth and addressing specific positional needs.
Meanwhile, the Toronto Maple Leafs concluded a transaction with St. Louis that involved Carlo, a defenseman who had been on the Leafs’ roster. In exchange, the Blues provided Toronto with two selections in the third round of the draft. The trade was announced during the draft proceedings and reflects the common practice of teams exchanging players for future picks to manage their long‑term asset strategy.
Both moves were confirmed by the league’s official draft communications and were recorded as part of the broader activity that defines the entry draft weekend. The Buffalo venue hosted the event, bringing together representatives from all 32 NHL clubs to evaluate prospects and negotiate deals.
The Canadiens and the Leafs will now turn their attention to the remaining draft slots and any subsequent roster decisions. For Montreal, the addition of Runtso adds a new name to its development pipeline, while Toronto looks ahead to the third‑round selections it acquired, which will be used to select additional prospects later in the draft.
The St. Louis Blues, having received Brandon Carlo, will integrate the defenseman into their lineup plans as the season approaches, completing the exchange that was finalized on the second day of the 2026 NHL Entry Draft.