The latest buzz around Dylan Larkin has only sharpened one thing: if the Minnesota Wild are really willing to go this far, the Maple Leafs are nowhere near that neighborhood.
Larkin’s future in Detroit is being treated like a matter of when, not if, and the trade chatter around him has only picked up. He’s reportedly open to adjusting his trade list to make a move easier, but that doesn’t change the cost. If anything, it just opens the door for more teams to take a swing at him.
According to Elliotte Friedman, Minnesota’s pitch could be the most aggressive one on the table. The Wild are believed to be offering rapidly-improving Danila Yurov, another veteran - Friedman noted that trade protection leaves him uncertain of whomst - and a Costco of firsts. The idea, as Friedman put it, is that Minnesota wants to strengthen, not go sideways.
That’s the key detail here. The Wild appear to be betting that their best offer will top whatever else Larkin is willing to accept. Minnesota has three first-round picks available, which gives them the flexibility to pile them together with Yurov and a veteran piece if that’s what it takes.
The veteran in question still isn’t clear, though Friedman pointed to Yakov Trenin, Maxim Shabanov, or Ryan Hartman as possible candidates. Trenin and Hartman both carry 10-team modified no-trade clauses, and it’s not known whether Detroit is on those lists. Shabanov, meanwhile, has no trade protection, is 26 years old, and could be the NHL-ready player the Red Wings would want back.
If Detroit were pushed into moving its captain, a package built around Yurov, Shabanov, three firsts and a third-round pick would be the kind of haul that makes a deal hard to ignore.
To Detroit:
(F) Danila Yurov
(F) Maxim Shabanov
2027 First-Round Pick
2028 First-Round Pick
2029 First-Round Pick
2029 Third-Round Pick
To Minnesota:
(F) Dylan Larkin
That’s the sort of offer that gives Minnesota a clear edge. The Wild would get the 2C they’ve been chasing for months, while Detroit would land a 22-year-old on the rise, a 26-year-old in his prime, and a pile of premium draft capital.
And that’s where Toronto runs into the wall. The Leafs simply don’t have the same kind of player assets, and they’re not moving Easton Cowan.
That alone takes them out of the top tier of possible bidders. On top of that, they don’t have anything close to Minnesota’s stash of first-round picks.
Toronto’s only first is the 2027 pick from Colorado, which leaves them at a serious disadvantage.
If Shawn Horcoff is staring at a package like that, it’s the kind of offer that can change the conversation. Especially if the player in question doesn’t want to be there and would rather forgo salary than wear that jersey.
In Other News...
Maple Leafs Let A Vital Home Point Slip Over One Costly Mistake
Jack Roslovic did enough to give the Maple Leafs a chance, scoring both Toronto goals in a tight 3-2 loss to the Utah Mammoth at Scotiabank Arena. Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 33 of 36 shots, and for long stretches the game looked like the kind of home effort that should at least have produced a point.
Instead, one late mistake changed the night. A penalty in the final stretch handed Utah a power play in a tied game, and the visitors made Toronto pay with the decisive goal. For a Leafs team trying to bank every point it can at home, it was the sort of lapse that lingers because the margin was so thin. [Read more 🡒]
Maple Leafs Still Need More From Darren Raddysh In One Key Area
Darren Raddysh has already shown he can help the Maple Leafs in a few different ways, and his early profile with the club reflects that. He is tied for third on the team in shots on goal, a sign that he is getting involved offensively, but his own focus has been broader than just finishing chances. After reflecting on his scoring last season, Raddysh said he is willing to contribute however he can to Torontos success, including in his own end.
Coach Jim Hiller has noticed the defensive work and the way Raddysh helps move the puck on the power play, which has been one of the teams strengths. The next step, though, is finding a little more assertiveness as a shooter, because the Leafs could use him to turn more of those looks into actual attempts. For a player trying to carve out a bigger role, that balance between supporting the attack and becoming more direct could matter as the season moves along. [Read more 🡒]
Sabres Are Chasing A Star As The NHL Trade Market Shifts
The NHL trade market has taken on a star-chasing feel, and Toronto is right in the middle of the conversation as teams start positioning themselves for a rare name to become available. Nikita Kucherov has already made it clear why he wants out of Tampa Bay, pointing to frustration with contract talks and his relationship with Lightning general manager Julien BriseBois, which has only added fuel to a situation that could reshape the league if it keeps moving.
For the Maple Leafs, the intrigue is obvious because they are among the clubs reportedly watching closely, even if Kucherov has not yet narrowed the field to preferred landing spots. Buffalos pursuit of Dylan Larkin shows how aggressive teams are willing to be when a star might be in play, but Torontos angle remains the same for now: stay alert, stay involved, and wait to see whether the market opens far enough for a contender to make a real push. [Read more 🡒]