Dylan Larkin’s trade situation in Detroit has opened the door to a name the Maple Leafs should be watching closely: Alex DeBrincat.
Adam Proteau pointed to the possibility that Larkin’s request could eventually spill over into DeBrincat’s future with the Red Wings, especially if Detroit’s direction keeps tilting away from contention. The idea is simple enough - if Larkin is out and the team is only doing a retool, DeBrincat may not be eager to stick around for it.
That matters because DeBrincat is entering the final year of his deal and can become an unrestricted free agent in 2027. If he wants a team that can compete right away, Toronto checks a lot of boxes. The Maple Leafs also have a clear need for another pure finisher to slot alongside Auston Matthews and William Nylander, and DeBrincat’s track record speaks for itself: 294 career goals, a 32.7 career average in goals, a per-82 game average of 35 goals, only one season below 20 goals, and as many 40-plus goal seasons as 20-plus goal seasons.
Proteau’s read is that if Detroit slides toward a full rebuild and DeBrincat is looking for a major raise, the winger could be on the move sooner rather than later. In that scenario, Toronto would have a legitimate case to make as a destination.
The fit on the ice is obvious too. DeBrincat has at least some history with Matthews from the 2015-16 Team USA World Junior squad, when Matthews put up 11 points in 7 games and DeBrincat scored one goal in five games. Put them together now, and the Leafs would be adding a scorer who can take pressure off Matthews while working with Gavin McKenna, the playmaking force Proteau highlighted as the kind of partner who can unlock more offense.
DeBrincat’s profile lines up well with that idea. He ranked in the 77th percentile in max skating speed last season, and Proteau noted that pairing that speed with McKenna’s downhill style could create a steady stream of odd-man rushes. He also posted nearly a 60% Corsi rating last season, a number that fits the picture of a player who helps keep the puck moving and the attack flowing.
The obstacle, as always for Toronto, is the cap.
The Maple Leafs are currently $2.75M over the cap, and DeBrincat carries a $7.875M contract. Proteau laid out a few ways Toronto could try to make it work.
One route would be moving Morgan Rielly as a cap dump, which would clear $7.5M, though that alone still wouldn’t be enough. Another possibility is sending out Dakota Joshua, who makes $3.25M, which would give Toronto just enough room to become cap compliant before the season.
If the Leafs wanted to keep Joshua, Max Domi and LTIR relief could be another path, though that would depend on Domi’s health and whether he is genuinely eligible. Even then, Toronto would still need another move to finish the job.
For now, DeBrincat is not a Leafs target simply because of Larkin’s situation. He’s a fit because he matches Toronto’s win-now window, and because he would finally have a chance to play in more than the nine playoff games of his career. The question is whether the Leafs can do the financial gymnastics required to get him.
In Other News...
Maple Leafs Blue Line Question Has Put One Trade Target In Focus
With Toronto still sorting out the shape of its blue line, attention has turned to the kind of defenseman who can settle things down in his own zone rather than add more offense to the mix. The fit being discussed is a right-handed, shutdown style player from Calgary who has built a reputation on shot blocking and physical play, traits that would give the Maple Leafs a sturdier layer of protection behind their top defenders.
The appeal is obvious for a club that wants more defensive stability and reliable depth on the back end. But even if the Flames crowded defense makes the idea worth monitoring, the Leafs would still need to make room to pull it off, which keeps the conversation from being as simple as identifying a need and filling it. [Read more 🡒]
Darryl Sittler Owns A Leafs Feat That May Never Fall
Darryl Sittlers place in Maple Leafs lore remains tied to a night that still feels almost unreal nearly half a century later. On Feb. 7, 1976, he piled up 10 points against the Boston Bruins, a total built on six goals and four assists that stands as both an NHL record and the franchise benchmark for the most points in a single game.
The number has survived because the game around it has changed so much. Scoring rates have shifted, goaltending has improved, and the kind of individual eruption Sittler authored has become harder to imagine in todays league, which is why this is one Leafs mark that may never be touched. [Read more 🡒]
Maple Leafs Just Got An Atlantic Division Opening They Needed
Brad Marchands offseason is now one of the more notable injury watch items in the Atlantic Division, and it could matter quickly for the Maple Leafs. The Panthers have not officially confirmed the nature of the issue, but Marchand did undergo surgery, and the early sense is that his availability to begin the season is very much in question.
For Toronto, the timing is the key part. Any delay in Marchands return would leave Florida dealing with a significant early absence, and thats the kind of opening a division rival can try to cash in on before the clubs see each other in December. The Leafs do not need to know every detail to appreciate the opportunity, just that a team built with Marchand in mind may have to start the year without him. [Read more 🡒]