Dylan Larkin’s name is back in the rumor mix, and Montreal is the destination that keeps making the most sense on paper.
That’s the read from TSN’s Bryan Hayes and Frankie Corrado, who both see the Canadiens as a logical fit for the Detroit center. Hayes called Larkin an ideal add, with Corrado agreeing, even though Hayes also noted Larkin would have to “come around” to the idea.
The fit is easy to see: Montreal could line up Nick Suzuki and Larkin as its top two centers, which would give the club real depth through the middle. The money works, too, with Larkin carrying an $8.7 million cap hit alongside Suzuki’s $7.875 million and Cole Caufield’s $7.85 million.
The catch is the one that matters most. Larkin is not currently ready to waive his no-trade clause for Montreal.
So for now, the idea lives more in theory than reality. The question is whether that stance can change, and whether the Canadiens would be willing to pay the price to land him as a No. 2 center.
In Boston, Mason Lohrei is trying to push the trade talk out of the picture and win his job the hard way.
Lohrei spent much of last season as a name floating around in trade chatter, including reports that the Bruins had included him in a proposal for Rasmus Andersson before Calgary eventually sent the defenseman to Vegas. His Boston future stayed uncertain into the offseason, especially after he played in only three of the Bruins’ six playoff games.
But now the focus appears to be shifting. The 25-year-old defenseman told The Boston Globe that he is looking forward to the challenge of earning a full-time roster spot this season.
That doesn’t mean the speculation is gone for good. Lohrei is still a player to monitor if Boston decides it needs to swing for a major upgrade at center down the line. For now, though, the Bruins are expected to give him a chance to prove he belongs in the lineup every night.
Out in Minnesota, the Quinn Hughes noise is being swatted away just as fast as it surfaced.
After a heated exchange and a jab at the lack of beat reporters in New Jersey, The Athletic’s Michael Russo reported that league sources are “emphatically” denying any trade discussions involving Hughes and the Devils. Russo wrote that the Wild have not engaged New Jersey - or any other team - in talks for the star defenseman.
“As the Minnesota Wild continue extension talks with Quinn Hughes, league sources emphatically shot down reports that the Wild have engaged the New Jersey Devils - or any team - in trade talks regarding the superstar defenseman. One source, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss negotiations that aren’t public, went as far as to tell The Athletic on Tuesday that the rumors are “bulls-,” “made up” and “invented BS by bloggers.”
Russo added that Minnesota is still in extension discussions with Hughes’ agent, Pat Brisson, and remains confident a deal can be reached before the regular season. Hughes is entering the final year of his six-year, $7.85 million contract and could hit unrestricted free agency next summer. The biggest sticking point may be term, with Minnesota favoring an eight-year deal while Hughes’ side could prefer something in the three- to five-year range.
And in Vancouver, Brock Boeser is another name worth watching if the rebuild keeps rolling.
TSN’s Travis Yost believes the 29-year-old winger remains better than what his recent numbers over the past two seasons suggest. Boeser is entering the second season of a seven-year contract with a $7.25 million annual cap hit, and he also holds a full no-movement clause.
That means any move would come down to one thing: whether Boeser is willing to leave Vancouver. If the rebuild drags on longer than expected, he could eventually decide his future belongs somewhere else.
In Other News...
Wild Fans Are Getting A Big Viewing Change This Season
Minnesota Wild fans who have gotten used to tracking games across a patchwork of channels are in for another shift next season. The team announced its national broadcast schedule for the 2026-27 NHL season, with games slated to appear on ESPN, ESPN+, Disney+, Hulu, TNT, ABC and other platforms, while the club also prepares to launch a team-owned and operated exclusive multimedia television network for the games not picked up by national NHL partners.
The changing TV landscape is only part of the adjustment, since the NHL also moved the start times for eight Wild games during the season. For fans planning around the schedule, and for anyone lining up tickets or membership options already on sale, it is another reminder that following the Wild is becoming as much about where and when to watch as it is about what happens on the ice. [Read more 🡒]
Wild Dylan Larkin Hopes Could Shift Again Because Of Detroits Search
The Wilds interest in Dylan Larkin has run into the kind of delay that can change a market fast: Detroits search for new leadership. Minnesota has had Larkin on its radar in trade conversations, but any meaningful movement has been slowed as the Red Wings sort through management changes and reset the direction of the franchise. For a team like the Wild, that means the timeline is less about when a deal gets done and more about who in Detroit ends up making the calls.
Andrew Thomas, a former member of the Wild front office, is reportedly among the candidates being considered for the Red Wings general manager job, and his presence adds another layer to the situation. His analytics background and past ties to Minnesota could shape how Detroit weighs Larkins trade request and what it asks in return, especially if the new regime wants a different kind of return than the one the Wild are hoping to offer. For now, the piece that matters most for Minnesota is still unsettled. [Read more 🡒]
Larkin Trade Rumors Just Hit A Huge Red Wings Roadblock
Dylan Larkins name has been linked to the Wild, and the idea alone is enough to get attention in Minnesota. The Detroit captain is reportedly open to a trade to the Wild, which would instantly change the conversation around a team always looking to add speed, leadership and proven offense down the middle.
The problem is that Detroits side of the equation has not moved forward, and the lack of a general manager has slowed any real momentum. In the meantime, TSN analysts Bryan Hayes and Frankie Corrado have pointed to Montreal as another possible fit because of the roster and salary structure, but Larkin has not yet agreed to waive his no-trade clause for the Canadiens, leaving any deal to hinge on both his approval and the assets involved. [Read more 🡒]