The Toronto Maple Leafs need a centre.
More pecifically, the Toronto Maple Leafs need to add another star forward, ideally one who plays centre, to their team before they can seriously consider themselves Cup Contenders. No longer can the Leafs rely on a bottom-six that can't promise to score if Matthews and Marner have a night off.
If, as rumour indicartes, Dylan Larkin has requested a trade, the Leafs need to act.
There couldn't possibly be a better option on the trade market.
Crazy Red Wings rumour could vastly alter the Toronto maple leafs trade plans
BREAKING: Per insider sources, Detroit Red Wings captain has requested a trade. The veteran forward, who has been with the team for over a decade, is reportedly unhappy with his tenure in Detroit due to years of losing and is seeking a fresh start with a contender. #RedWings
— Red Wings Insider (@wings_insider) December 8, 2024
Dylan Larkin is 28 and makes almost nine million against the salary cap, and is signed for eight more years, with the contract that he just signed running until 2031, which is what makes this rumour so crazy.
What makes it believable is that Detroit was supposed to make the playoffs this year, and considering they currently have just about the same record as the Montreal Canadiens, who would not trade rosters with them were it an option, that doesn't look like it's going to happen.
For all intents and purposes, the Detroit Red Wings are already eliminated from playoff contention. It makes sense that Larkin would want out, although it is hard to believe since he only recently signed an extention.
Larkin is not a top ten NHL player, but he's definitely in the mix between 11-50 (and really, how much difference is there between those players?) and he is a superstar who would make the Toronto Maple Leafs way better.
Larkin would allow the Leafs to move Tavares down to the 3C spot where he will absolutely dominante. Matthews-Larkin-Tavares would be the best centre ice combo in the NHL by about 200 miles.
Furthermore, there is a long history of teams who get a 3rd superstar to centre their third line of winning the Stanley Cup.
The Leafs owe it to their fans to make a huge move and try to end the nearly 60 year championship drought, but beyond that, it just simply makes sense to pursue Larkin with Tavares coming off the books. In a perfect world, the Leafs big add would be a defenseman, but a star player makes you better regardless of their position, and it's hard to imagine a bigger star being available.
Dylan Larkin is one of the best hockey players alive in the world today. The only issue I forsee being a problem is that the Rangers already have $8 million in cap space. If Larkin is available, and there is no reason to even believe he really is, the Rangers are likely going to have the best chance of landing him.
At the very least, the Leafs would have to send back Domi and Kampf (and more) the other way just to make the cap work, but as far those wouldn't really be considered a part of the trade, as neither player would interest the Red Wings. To land Larkin, it would have to be Easton Cowan and multiple draft picks going to Detroit.
I don't know if it's a realistic possibility, but if there is even a chance, the Toronto Maple Leafs need to be very aggressive in their pursuit of Larkin.