With the shocking exit of Steve Yzerman as President and GM of the Red Wings, a new GM may be more open to dealing Dylan Larkin - and Toronto could be a fit.
On Wednesday, the Detroit Red Wings made a stunning change of scenery in the front office as Steve Yzerman decided to step away from his position as Team President and General Manager and instead serve as an advisor to CEO Chris Ilitch instead.
It was a move that came out of nowhere and completely turned the organization on its head, and now they are on the lookout for a new GM, President, and leader of Hockey Operations. Yzerman had a polarizing tenure in Detroit that was outlined by his 'Yzer-plan' that really never came to fruition despite having a boatload of talent.
Detroit's next general manager will inherit an unresolved Dylan Larkin trade request
Well with a new GM coming in, there may be a lot of changes coming in the Motor City and for Dylan Larkin, that may be great news.
After Yzerman seemingly didn't want to deal with that situation, a new GM inherits a player who would like to play elsewhere next year, and with Yzerman out - he may be willing to open up his options.
We know that he prefers Minnesota as an option, but has reportedly been open to other places like Dallas, though with a new GM and perhaps more inclination to deal Larkin to get rid of the headache - it could be a rough summer yet. Larkin isn't happy, and after experiencing winning wants to do so continuously and Detroit can't guarantee it.
Larkin, 29 (soon to be 30), had another fantastic season with 34 goals and 67 points in 74 games while adding a 52.9% face-off win percentage, a plus-3, and fantastic possession numbers - and 2025-26 was his fifth-straight 30+ goal season.
He also won gold with Team USA in the Milano Cortina Olympics which has seemingly been the catalyst for all this trade chatter, and seeing his American teammates head for greener pastures, he might feel like doing the same thing.
Larkin's expanded destination list could give Toronto a second opportunity
If so, then perhaps Larkin would like to join of his teammates from the US. Quinn Hughes? Maybe. Brady and Matthew Tkachuk? Likely not.
Auston Matthews? Bingo.
If there's any place that a) could use Larkin and b) give him a chance at competing, it's Toronto. He is a perfect fit down the middle for the Maple Leafs, and is the perfect solution to the Panthers and Lightning given his elite two-way ability.
Plus, it's not like Detroit. Whereas he's got Lucas Raymond, Mo Seider, and Alex Debrincat currently, there's also a lineup including Matthews, Gavin McKenna, Matthew Knies, John Tavares, and William Nylander.
Larkin would have an insane amount of talent around him, and they'd be able to give him everything he needs to succeed.
Matthews has been vocal about wanting to see serious change, and while the team has done a lot to convince him to stay past 2028, they still lack that one true piece. Larkin turns the team into a well-oiled machine and someone who is durable, reliable, and familiar with how your captain plays.
Oh, and he's also a captain so he'd add yet another leader in the locker room and another veteran voice who can help mentor Gavin McKenna along with all the others who are looking out for him.
People point to Larkin as a bad guy given he only picked a handful of teams but given he's in complete control of his fate due to Yzerman - it's his right.
Hopefully this change in leadership will change Larkin's mind. Not about leaving Detroit, but where he wants to end up with Toronto a very real possibility.
Will Detroit end up trading Dylan Larkin now Steve Yzerman is not in charge?
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