Elliotte Friedman’s latest update on Dylan Larkin is the kind of news that can make a Bruins fan uneasy in a hurry.
The Detroit Red Wings center is sitting out until a deal gets done, and the situation appears to be moving toward a resolution. Friedman reported Saturday that Larkin could remove some teams from his list of 10 and replace them with teams that are actually interested, which could speed things up fast. If that happens, a trade might come together in minutes.
That’s where Boston comes in. The Bruins have not been part of the early chatter because they have not been on Larkin’s list, but that could change this week. Multiple rumors and reports have suggested that Boston and the Montreal Canadiens could each have offers on the table that Detroit would take, and if Larkin adds either team, the process could move very quickly.
For the Bruins, that would mean a chance to upgrade. But it would also mean paying a real price, and that’s where the concern starts.
Don Sweeney can’t trade the farm for Dylan Larkin
There’s a version of this deal that makes sense, but it has to stay within reason. James Hagens should not be in play after the way he has started the season, and if Boston is serious, the package would more likely need to center on someone like Dean Letourneau plus valuable draft picks. Even then, the idea of giving up too much for Larkin is hard to love.
Larkin may help Boston right away, but the fit comes with a big question: he is not a No. 1 center. Plenty of smart hockey people view him as a better second-line center, which is part of why a move to Montreal, where he could slot behind Nick Suzuki, makes sense. In Boston, he would be asked to be the main man if Pavel Zacha also goes the other way, and that’s not a role he looks built to carry on a Stanley Cup-contending team.
If you’re paying that kind of price, it should be for a player who pushes you closer to a championship. If Larkin doesn’t do that, then what’s the point of sacrificing valuable assets?
There’s also the human side of this saga, and it hasn’t helped Larkin’s case. He told Red Wings fans he was committed to the team, then asked for a trade in the summer, came back by attending training camp, and now has left his teammates and fans hanging again. The more this drags on, the less he looks like someone you’d want setting the tone for an organization.
That’s why, even with the possibility of Boston entering the mix, the Bruins should be careful. If Larkin ends up on the updated list, the deal may get done quickly. But quick does not always mean wise.
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Bruins Just Got A Goalie Performance They Couldnt Ignore
Bostons comeback win over Chicago had plenty of moving parts, but Michael DiPietros night was the kind that tends to linger with a coaching staff. The Bruins erased a 4-2 deficit late in the third period and finished off a 5-4 overtime victory on Elias Lindholms winner, yet the goaltending was a major reason they were even in position to steal it after a rough start.
DiPietro has been getting his chance in Boston since the Bruins moved Joonas Korpisalo to the New York Rangers, and he made the most of this one with 37 saves. In a game that could have slipped away quickly, he gave Boston the steadiness it needed to hang around long enough for the rally to take hold, which is exactly the sort of performance that can complicate the conversation in net. [Read more 🡒]
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Marco Sturm has already addressed the issue, pointing to Zadorovs discipline and what the Bruins need from him going forward. For a team that leans on Zadorov for size, edge and toughness, the challenge is finding the line between playing hard and giving away momentum, especially when those lapses keep drawing attention. [Read more 🡒]
Bruins About To Face The Stretch That Will Define This Start
The Bruins have given themselves an early cushion with a strong start, and now comes the part of the schedule that can tell whether it means anything. A tight overtime win over Chicago kept the momentum going, but the next stretch is a different kind of test, with Vegas, Pittsburgh and Florida all waiting in line as Boston tries to hold onto its place atop the Atlantic.
What makes this run so important is the way the Bruins want to win it, not just the results. The emphasis has been on offensive balance, defensive consistency and dependable goaltending, and those are the ingredients that tend to get exposed when the schedule stiffens. If Boston can keep those areas steady through this stretch, it will say plenty about how real this fast start is. [Read more 🡒]