The Top 5 Players the Toronto Maple Leafs Should Trade For

Dylan Larkin

Larkin is an elite centre/winger who is better than 89% of NHL players in the last two combined seasons.

Larkin makes $6 million dollars, is 25 years old and has one more year remaining on his contract.  The Detroit Red Wings are still a while from competing, and their current record this year is inflated and not an indication that their rebuild is almost over.

The picks and prospects the Wings could get for Larkin could be extremely beneficial and you’d have to think that they would at least explore trading him.

The Leafs don’t really have a need specifically for a player like this, but adding elite players to any position makes you better.  In fact, I’d say that teams are 99% too focused on positional needs.  The Leafs could add their dream defense target and it wouldn’t make them better than if they stayed the same on the blue-line and added Larkin.

Is it realistic? Probably not.  The Wings could likely extract a King’s Ransom for such a player, but this is a dream list, not  a realistic list.

Just imagine the Leafs start out with Mathews and Bunting, then through out Tavares and Marner, then on their 3rd line it’s Larkin and Nylander.  How would anyone defend against that?

If the Leafs don’t get past the first round, then Kyle Dubas won’t have a job any more.  Therefore, a big move like this is in his best interest.  Dylan Larkin would be an amazing addition.