Adam Proteau raised the possibility that Dylan Larkin's trade request could eventually affect Alex DeBrincat's future in Detroit, creating a situation the Maple Leafs would be worth monitoring.
Proteau wrote an article discussing how Larkin's trade rumours and potential exit from the Red Wings could cause a ripple effect that ends up affecting Debrincat, given how close the two are and how far away Detroit is from competing:
DeBrincat could be just as important than Larkin is, if not more important. If his next contract is to his liking, and Red Wings management decides on a retool rather than a full rebuild, will that be enough to satisfy his competitive ambitions?
Proteau then went a bit deeper into his thoughts, and how Detroit's lack of competitiveness is a key factor in both Larkin and Debrincat's futures with the club:
However, there's a reason players decide to engineer a trade out of a team that's in the midst of at least a significant retool: they don't see a way to succeed. Larkin has already arrived at that conclusion, and that choice could set in motion a trade request from DeBrincat.
If that's the case, then the Red Wings may not be able to hang onto Debrincat if he requests out, and with him being a UFA come next summer - teams have leverage.
Capitalizing on Detroit's loss of extension leverage
If Larkin is eventually moved, DeBrincat's contract situation becomes more interesting because he is entering the final year of his deal and can become an unrestricted free agent in 2027.
With Debrincat wanting to compete, the Toronto Maple Leafs are a team who can offer him a much more competitive team while giving him premium top-six minutes. Lacking one more pure finisher to go along with Auston Matthews and William Nylander, Debrincat and his 294 career goals will play nicely.
He's reliable and consistent with his career average in goals being 32.7, and his per-82 game average is 35 goals for his career. He's only missed the 20-goal mark once in his career, and has as many 40+ goal seasons as he does 20+.
If he's looking for a huge pay raise this summer and Detroit is shifting towards a full on rebuild, then Debrincat could be finding a new home at some point this season - it's really up to him at this point.
The lethal 5-on-5 fit beside Auston Matthews and Gavin McKenna
Debrincat has familiarity playing with Matthews albeit briefly. The two were part of the 2015-16 Team USA World Junior squad where Matthews had 11 points in 7 games, meanwhile Debrincat only had one goal in five games.
Bringing them back together though would create a dynamic that makes Toronto deadly. Debrincat adds something that Matthews hasn't had on his wing - a pure scorer. He can help take some of the responsibility off the captain, but gets to thrive alongside a playmaking maestro in Gavin McKenna.
Debrincat ranked in the 77th percentile in max skating speed last season, and combined with McKenna's downhill playmaking can allow for a lot of odd man rushes. McKenna can take the puck and drive past the neutral zone into the opponent's end with Debrincat trailing to unleash a one-timer.
He's also a possession machine with nearly a 60% Corsi rating last season, with an above average rate for his career. That will help with puck movement and transition offence, as once he gathers the puck, he has a hard time losing it.
The Salary cap math required for John Chayka
The one issue that keeps coming back around for the Maple Leafs is the salary cap issue. Right now, the team is $2.75M over the cap and would need to make a deal to open up enough space to accommodate Debrincat's $7.875M contract.
One of the more straightforward options is that Toronto manages to package Morgan Rielly in a deal as a cap dump, which would clear $7.5M off the books but it still isn't enough. They could part with a player like Dakota Joshua who makes $3.25M and could be expendable given the amount of bottom-six players the team employs.
That would give Toronto just enough wiggle room to get under the cap ceiling and be compliant ahead of the regular season.
Or, if they were keen on keeping Joshua as part of the lineup, Max Domi and LTIR relief is one avenue.Domi's health could also affect Toronto's flexibility if he is genuinely eligible for LTIR, but that relief would depend on his status, and the team would still need to make another move.
DeBrincat is not a Maple Leafs trade target today simply because Larkin wants out but because he fits their win-now window and he would love to have more than nine playoff games in his career - and Toronto can give him that chance.
But only if they can make the money work, which is easier said than done given how much money needs to be sent out, and how much luck they need when it comes to Domi's future status.
Do you think the Maple Leafs should pursue Alex Debrincat if Detroit makes him available?
Also read on Hockey Patrol :
Brad Marchand surgery gives the Maple Leafs an unexpected early-season edge