Dylan Larkin has reportedly given his preferred destinations to be traded to, with the Maple Leafs nowhere near it - but includes some heavy hitters that fans hate.
When news broke of Larkin's trade request out of Detroit, it sent shockwaves through the NHL and led to a bunch of speculation as to not only why he wants out, but where he could go. One of the top forwards now available, he's going to be a hot commodity but according to Frank Seravalli; he only wants to play in one of three places and Toronto is nowhere close.
Larkin, 29, just put up his fifth-straight 30-goal season with the Red Wings and has been one of the best two-way centres over the past few seasons. He also won a gold medal in the 2026 Milano Olympics with Team USA.
We previously touched on Larkin as a fit with the Toronto Maple Leafs as they need a new 2C as well as some help defensively for Auston Matthews, but it sounds like he wants to stay far away from Canada.
Larkin narrows down his preferred trade destinations to Vegas, Florida, and Minnesota
According to Frank Seravalli (via Helene St. James), the disgruntled forward has only given a trio of teams he prefers to be traded to, and while one of them makes sense given the circumstances - the other two are going to make Leafs fans turn away in disgust:
Helene reports that Dylan Larkin gave #LGRW three teams where he'd accept a trade and believes those teams are: #FlaPanthers, #mnwild and #VGK.
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Minnesota is a bit obvious knowing that Team USA GM Bill Guerin runs the show over there, and they also have a few of his teammates like Matt Boldy and Quinn Hughes. But the Panthers and Golden Knights are two of the last teams Toronto wants to hear be involved.
If Florida gets him, that's going to make a tough Atlantic even harder.
With Sasha Barkov back in the fray fully healthy and a complete roster that isn't hanging by a thread; the last thing they need is more firepower in Larkin. That's going to be video game levels of fantasy roster building though it'll be interesting to see what Florida needs to part with.
He also has some connection with Matthew Tkachuk so it seems like everywhere he wants to go he wants to play with people he's familiar with.
Then we get to Vegas; who are in the Stanley Cup Finals. They just got Mitch Marner and arguably the best version we've ever seen, and now add Larkin to a mix that already has Marner, Jack Eichel, Tomas Hertl, Shea Theodore, Pavel Dorofeyev, William Karlsson; it's crazy.
How Toronto can withstand a Larkin trade within the division after being left out
Well, it sucks for the Maple Leafs to lose out on Larkin through no fault of their onward you'd think Larkin would be open to playing with his Team USA captain but alas it's not to be.
But things aren't over for Toronto. They still have a couple of names they could go after in a trade that would make a sensible replacement for Larkin - if he heads to Florida.
You've got Vincent Trocheck who also won gold with Matthews and is the perfect 2C to give Toronto a lot more defensive help while not sacrificing too much on offence, and he's still likely cheaper than Larkin would be.
They can also go after a player like Boone Jenner in free agency, as he would give a lot of physicality and protection to Matthews and be their new PK leader - but he's likely going to cost a lot and is 32 so it's a bit of a gamble.
It's honestly hard to see what Toronto would trade away to get Larkin, considering it would likely cost them Easton Cowan, their 2027 first-rounder, and potentially Ben Danford on top of an NHL-ready player. That's a lot to ask even if Larkin can bring a great, well-rounded skillset.
Bringing in Trocheck or Jenner wouldn't be an exact Larkin replacement 1:1 but it does give Toronto a lot more of a fighting chance if he does end up heading to Florida. If he goes to Vegas or Minnesota it really doesn't matter unless they meet in the Cup Finals.
That's probably the best thing the Maple Leafs can hope for because if the Panthers get stronger, it's going to be tough to take them down at full strength.
Which team do you think Dylan Larkin will get traded to?
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