According to Elliotte Friedman, Dylan Larkin wants out of Detroit and for the Toronto Maple Leafs, they can add the piece who just won gold with Auston Matthews.
Elliotte Friedman's sources told him that Dylan Larkin has requested a move out of Detroit, and for the six-time 30-goal scorer he would fit perfectly as Toronto's new 2C and could be a power-play killer with Auston Matthews whom he won a gold medal with in 2026.
Larkin, 29 is coming off yet another impressive season with 67 points including 34 goals. That's his fifth-straight 30-goal season while adding a plus-3, winning 53% of his face-offs and being the heart and soul of the Red Wings offence.
Larkin has requested a trade after another year of missing the playoffs, and controls his entire fate with his trade protection
However, news out of Detroit shows that he could be headed out of town. Sources close to Elliotte Friedman have noted that Larkin has requested a deal out of Detroit but also noted that absolutely no one is commenting on anything - from the GM, to Larkin's agent, to Steve Yzerman:
According to multiple sources, Dylan Larkin recently requested a trade from Detroit.
There's a lot to unpack here. First, should mention that no one would comment. Not Larkin, not agent Pat Brisson, not Red Wings Executive Vice-President & GM Steve Yzerman.
Second, Larkin's involvement in the trade market is massive. He has a full no-trade clause both this season and next, so his control over the situation does not change July 1.
He's a top-line centre in a league desperate for centres, so there's going to be a ton of interest. His play at the 4 Nations and Olympics was stellar. That's going to excite potential trade partners.
Larkin is currently in the midst of an eight-year, $69.6-million deal he signed in 2023. The Red Wings captain has 643 points in 808 career games (276 goals, 367 assists).
A number-one centre would give Auston Matthews that power-play killer he's always needed
The Maple Leafs have to be in the mix regardless of cost considering that Larkin is a legitimate game-changer who already has success playing alongside Matthews. The two won gold in the Olympics in 2026 and also have spent time together in the US Junior Hockey program.
While this isn't saying that all of a sudden Matthews is going to drop down in the lineup, it's certainly a replacement for John Tavares that can help elevate William Nylander even more and also provide that same defensive acumen.
Plus, those two together on the power-play alongside Matthew Knies, Nylander and perhaps someone like Darren Raddysh or Dougie Hamilton and suddenly you have one of the most potent units in the entire league.
Larkin is certainly a commitment and the Maple Leafs would need to pay a hefty price in order to do so, so it might sting fans if this is the package that ends up going:
To Toronto:
(C) Dylan Larkin
To Detroit:
(F) Easton Cowan
(C) Jacob Quillan
2026 2nd Round Pick (59th overall)
2027 1st Round Pick (COL)
Toronto has to part with Cowan, and Detroit will take nothing less. The potential for Cowan to get possessed to him from names like Lucas Raymond and Mo Seider is too tantalizing to pass up.
The picks are a given considering you're never going to get a star player nowadays without draft capital. Toronto can afford next year's pick given that they already have the first overall this year.
Toss in that 59th overall pick as a sweetener to get some more ammo for Detroit's already loaded pipeline, and Quillan is a proto-Larkin who can provide solid offence and defence in the bottom-six.
Yes it's a huge payment but you are bringing in a surefire 30+ goal scorer who can be your new 2C for the foreseeable future, is under control, and already has a great deal of chemistry with your captain.
It's a price worth paying if it gets Toronto closer to the Stanley Cup.
Do you think Dylan Larkin is going to be traded this summer?
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