Why Dylan Larkin should consider expanding his trade request list to include the Toronto Maple Leafs

Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin could be on the move, and he should consider increasing his trade list to include the Toronto Maple Leafs.

It’s not often that a player of Larkin’s ability becomes available, but according to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, that could certainly be the case this summer as the 29-year-old centre appears ready to move on from the Red Wings.

After early reports emerged, it was revealed that Larkin had submitted just three teams on his trade list to Detroit. Many derided the decision, with a wantaway player limiting his ability to actually be traded, and it sounds as if the list could be expanding already.

For the moment, however, the Toronto Maple Leafs are not one of the teams included on his list. Larkin, though, should consider putting the Leafs on the list, as John Chayka’s team could be a perfect landing spot for him.

Why Larkin makes sense for Toronto

Larkin has been a top-line centre in the NHL for years now, leading the way for a Detroit team that has not made the playoffs since his rookie season back in 2015–16.

He is a highly skilled player who has hit 30+ goals in five consecutive seasons and would be the perfect addition for the Leafs through the middle.

With fellow countryman and Olympic Gold Medal winner Auston Matthews entrenched as the Leafs’ top centre, Larkin would slot in perfectly at 2C if he were to move north of the border.

He averages over 20 minutes of ice time per game, and the Leafs could use him in a perfect one-two tandem that allows both Matthews and Larkin to play important minutes. This could see the Leafs benefit through a plethora of goals, assuming both players are deployed to their strengths in the offensive zone.

John Tavares has been a stellar 2C for the Leafs, and he continues to hit impressive offensive numbers, but with his advanced age, it would be a sensible decision for Toronto to bring in someone who could lighten the load and give the team potentially even a three-deep monster on offence.

Larkin will soon be 30 years old, so he has plenty of years left in the tank, and he could form a formidable partnership with Matthews, William Nylander, Matthew Knies and potentially even Gavin McKenna, assuming he is taken first overall in this year’s Draft.

What Toronto offers Larkin

As mentioned, if Larkin were traded to Toronto, he would have the opportunity to link up with his Olympic Gold-winning captain in Matthews.

Taking a slightly lesser role, but still playing for a historic, Original Six team playing in the heart of the hockey world, is something a player such as Larkin could relish if given the chance.

Winning the Stanley Cup with the Toronto Maple Leafs would make anyone an instant legend in Toronto, and he would have a strong supporting cast around him to genuinely have a chance at achieving it.

Matthews, Nylander, Knies, Tavares, the first-overall selection, and a strong goaltending group both in the NHL and developing in the AHL are solid foundations to build upon under the guidance of new general manager John Chayka.

Larkin, while regularly playing high minutes, has struggled with injuries throughout his career and could find himself rejuvenated in Toronto, as he would not be expected to play the most minutes night in and night out.

Playing a second-line role, where his minutes could range from 18 to 20 minutes a night at most, with Matthews playing a similar amount, albeit on the upper end of the scale, could see him remain fresher for longer throughout a season.

Getting Larkin on the ice for 82 games a year, plus postseason, would give him the best chance of hitting the same heights he reached in the 2022–23 season, where he had nearly a point per game and a career-high of 79 points (32 goals, 47 assists), for which he played in his third All-Star Game.

His $8.7 million AAV would fit well in the Leafs’ current cap situation, and he would find himself playing with a team that made the postseason for nine consecutive seasons before this past campaign’s surprise disappointment.

The Leafs are a better team than last year’s results showed, and Larkin would find himself playing a key role in helping the team get back to the playoffs and potentially on a run towards being cup contenders once again.