Maple Leafs & Stars Both To Have Defensman Miss Extended Time

The Toronto Maple Leafs and Dallas Stars are both expected to be without NHL regulars for some time as it was revealed Brandon Carlo (TOR) and Lian Bichsel (DAL) are both injured and not returning any time soon.

Craig Berube says Brandon Carlo will miss extended time

“He has to get something done. It didn’t go the way we thought”@TSN_Sports
— Mark Masters (@markhmasters) December 2, 2025

Sounds like #TexasHockey Lian Bichsel will miss significant time with his injury sustained Sunday.
— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) December 2, 2025

Carlo hasn't exactly been a fan favourite in Toronto, but it is better to have him in the lineup and healthy than not, given the situation on the Maple Leafs' back-end. Carlo has two assists in 18 games this season, and while he isn't expected to be producing offensively, he hasn't played well overall and it was rumored that the Maple Leafs were trying to find a deal for him in the summer and still are.

Carlo is one of the Maple Leafs' right-shot defensemen who plays on the right side. The other injury on defense is Chris Tanev, who is the same. This caused Toronto to pick up Troy Stecher on waivers and have both Philippe Myers and Dakota Mermis in the lineup almost every day as well. It isn't great on Toronto's defense at the moment.

In Dallas, they are still playing well and managing, even without Bichsel, Thomas Harley, and Nils Lundkvist. Their lineup on defense includes Alex Petrovic, Vladislav Kolyachonok, and Kyle Capobianco. If any more defensemen get injured, then there will be a real problem, but for now, the team is managing and winning.