If Dylan Larkin ever decides to widen his options, the Montreal Canadiens are already on the radar in Detroit.
TSN’s Pierre LeBrun reported that the Red Wings have been actively scouting the Canadiens, and Detroit Director of Professional Scouting Kris Draper is at tonight’s game between Montreal and the Chicago Blackhawks. The idea, at least for now, is simple: be ready if Larkin changes his mind.
That remains a big if. Larkin has not moved off his stance in the Canadian market. He initially named the Florida Panthers, Minnesota Wild and Vegas Golden Knights, then expanded the list to include the Carolina Hurricanes, Colorado Avalanche, Dallas Stars, New Jersey Devils, Tampa Bay Lightning, Utah Mammoth and Washington Capitals.
The hurdle is obvious. Every team on that list is tight to the cap and would need a money-in, money-out deal to make anything work. Still, Larkin got a warm reception in Detroit’s first game in Montreal this season, and if the Canadiens end up on his list, a deal is expected to come together quickly.
Detroit’s night-to-night concerns also got bigger last night in Vancouver. Starting goalie John Gibson left the Red Wings’ game against the Canucks with an upper-body injury, and because Detroit is in the middle of a Pacific Division road trip, there may not be much clarity for a few days.
Gibson’s exit opened the door for Michal Postava to make his NHL debut. He stopped seven of eight shots in relief.
In Florida, the Panthers had their own injury scare in last night’s game against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Defenseman Gustav Forsling left early after taking a puck to the face, according to team reporter Jameson Olive. The Panthers don’t play again until Sunday, so more should be known after practice tomorrow.
Buffalo is also waiting on an update. Bill Hoppe of Buffalo Hockey reported that Sabres forward Jiri Kulich is questionable for the road trip after getting injured in practice.
Hoppe said Kulich took a puck to the face during a power-play drill. Kulich has one goal and three points in eight games this season.
In Other News...
Panthers Suddenly Have A Goalie Story Fans Need To Watch
Cooper Black finally got his first taste of the NHL spotlight, and it came in a spot Florida fans have been waiting to see filled more consistently. The Panthers goalie, signed as a free agent two years ago, made his debut against Pittsburgh and drew immediate attention simply by stepping into the crease, with Matthew Tkachuk among those praising the way he handled the night despite the result.
The challenge for Black now is figuring out what comes next after an encouraging first look in a tough setting. Florida has a developing goalie storyline on its hands, and Black's debut offered enough poise to make it worth watching closely, even in a 4-0 loss that left the final scoreline doing the heavy lifting. [Read more 🡒]
Panthers Shake Up Their Lineup As Slide Starts Raising Questions
After consecutive losses, Paul Maurice made a noticeable set of tweaks to Floridas lineup as the Panthers try to steady themselves before meeting the Chicago Blackhawks. Sandis Vilmanis moved up into a more prominent role, while the blue line got a familiar look again with Radko Gudas and Dmitry Kulikov back together, part of a broader shuffle meant to tighten things up after the recent slide.
Florida also turned back to Akira Schmid in goal for the upcoming game, a sign the coaching staff is looking for a different feel as it resets the group. The projected lines and pairings suggest Maurice is willing to lean on some combinations with more familiarity, but the bigger question now is whether the changes will be enough to stop the bleeding and give the Panthers a cleaner response on the ice. [Read more 🡒]
Panthers Waste A Promising Debut In Another Frustrating Loss
The Panthers got a fresh look in goal and still came away empty-handed in Pittsburgh, falling 4-0 to the Penguins at PPG Paints Arena. Florida had been riding a three-game winning streak before back-to-back losses brought the momentum to a halt, and rookie Cooper Black at least gave the club a reason to keep watching with his NHL debut in net, turning aside 17 shots in a busy first appearance.
Even with chances available, the Panthers could not solve Arturs Silovs, who made 26 saves for the shutout as Pittsburgh controlled the finish. For Florida, the result fit the frustration of a night when the opportunities were there but the scoreboard never moved, leaving the club to sort through another flat offensive showing as the road trip moved on. [Read more 🡒]