In a shocking and electrifying move, the Maple Leafs have officially acquired star center and former Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin in a high-stakes deal that’s already being hailed as a franchise-altering moment. The deal comes just hours after Larkin exercised an unexpected opt-out clause in his eight-year, $69 million deal with Detroit—leaving five years and tens of millions on the table to chase something bigger.
That “something bigger”? A brand-new, eight-year, $95 million mega-contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs, as first reported by ESPN.
Yes, you read that right. $95 million. Toronto just dropped the bag.
The Deal: Leafs Go All-In
Details are still emerging, but sources close to both organizations say the Leafs sent a package including multiple high draft picks, top forward prospect Fraser Minten, and forward Calle Järnkrok to Detroit in return for Larkin’s rights—then immediately locked him up with the richest contract in franchise history.
Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving issued a brief but bold statement this morning:
> “Dylan Larkin is one of the premier two-way centers in the game today. We believe he is a cornerstone piece who will help bring a championship back to Toronto. We’re thrilled to welcome him to Leafs Nation.”
Larkin Leaves Detroit: A New Chapter Begins
This deal marks a dramatic end to Larkin’s tenure in Detroit, where he spent his entire NHL career since being drafted 15th overall in 2014. He wore the “C” with pride, scored over 500 career points, and became the heartbeat of a Red Wings team still in transition.
But in recent months, rumblings of tension over direction and competitive urgency had surfaced. Now, we know why.
Larkin clearly wanted a shot at glory—and he sees Toronto as the place to finally lift the Stanley Cup.
Leafs’ New Top Line? Terrifying.
With Larkin joining a star-studded forward core that already features Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, and William Nylander, Toronto now boasts perhaps the most fearsome top-six in the entire league.
Imagine this:
Larkin – Matthews – Marner
Knies – Tavares – Nylander
That’s not just a playoff lineup—that’s a Stanley Cup statement.
What’s Next?
This trade instantly changes the landscape of the Eastern Conference and raises the pressure bar in Toronto to championship-or-bust levels.
Meanwhile, Detroit gains valuable assets for their rebuild—but the emotional blow of losing their captain will sting for quite some time.
One thing is for sure: The NHL just got a lot more interesting.
Stay tuned for more updates as press conferences are scheduled for later today in both Toronto and Detroit. Leafs Nation, your team just went all-in