Dylan Larkin’s trade situation just got a little more tangled, and the Montreal Canadiens may be off the board before the conversation really gets going.
According to TVA Sports’ Renaud Lavoie, the Canadiens are not on Larkin’s approved list. The center is said to prefer staying in the United States, which would take Montreal out of the picture and leave Detroit with one fewer possible trade partner if the Red Wings decide to move him.
That matters because Larkin holds plenty of control here. He has five years left on his contract and a full no-trade clause through 2028, so nothing happens unless he agrees to it.
If Detroit eventually does get a GM in place, the asking price is expected to be steep. The Red Wings would need a return big enough to justify moving their best forward.
Montreal, at least on paper, could have made sense. The Canadiens have a deep stash of picks, a strong prospect pool and a roster loaded with team-friendly contracts. Bryan Hayes and Frankie Corrado of TSN both described them as an ideal fit, though Hayes also said Larkin would have to “come around to it.”
That doesn’t appear to be where this is headed.
Detroit still has other possibilities, even if Montreal is not one of them. Minnesota has been floated as the favorite to land Larkin, but the Wild have their own situation to sort through. While the Red Wings wait on their front office, Minnesota is dealing with Quinn Hughes and a contract extension that still hasn’t been agreed to.
If that drags on, it could make the Wild less willing to take on another expensive contract before they know what Hughes’ deal will look like.
Elsewhere, the interest is said to be broad, though the level of that interest remains unclear. The Golden Knights could be involved.
Tampa Bay might take a look. Utah has also been mentioned as a possible sleeper.
For now, the biggest takeaway is simple: with Larkin’s no-trade clause in play, this is the kind of situation that could stretch out for a while.
In Other News...
Wild Took A Low Cost Scoring Swing Fans Should Watch Closely
Minnesota kept its offseason cost low but still made a move that could matter if it clicks, signing Russian forward Maxim Shabanov to a one-year deal after the New York Islanders declined to qualify him as a restricted free agent. For a Wild club always looking for affordable ways to add skill, it is the kind of transaction that does not make a huge splash on paper but can quietly shape the forward group if the player settles in quickly.
The appeal is obvious: low risk, potential scoring upside, and a chance to see whether Shabanov can translate his game into a new setting with Minnesota. The Wild have been willing to shop in this part of the market before, and this is the sort of move that could look clever in hindsight if he finds a role, or fade into the background if he does not. Still, for a team trying to squeeze value from every roster spot, it is one worth following closely. [Read more 🡒]
Wild Cap Crunch Could Create One Unexpected Expansion Benefit
The Wilds roster math is becoming hard to ignore, and it carries a familiar kind of worry for a team trying to stay in the playoff conversation. With Kirill Kaprizov, Matt Boldy and Quinn Hughes driving the top end, the concern is less about star power than what comes behind it, especially when you stack the current depth against the 2014-15 group that once gave Minnesota so much more balance.
A planned NHL expansion team in 2029-30 adds another layer to the cap squeeze, because every extra dollar committed now can matter later when protection decisions arrive. Filip Gustavssons no-trade clause is part of that larger picture, too, since it shapes how much flexibility the Wild would have if they decide to juggle the crease before an expansion draft forces the issue. [Read more 🡒]
Wild Camp Suddenly Centers On A Forward Battle That Really Matters
Less than a month before the regular season, the Wild still have a roster picture that is not fully settled, and that makes training camp feel more like a live audition than a formality. Offseason departures left gaps that have yet to be filled, even as Minnesota is expected to open camp with most of the group healthy. The one notable absence is Filip Gustavsson, who is recovering from hip surgery, leaving the club to sort through the rest of the roster while it waits for the season to get closer.
That uncertainty puts extra weight on the forward group, where the organization is mixing established pieces with prospects trying to force their way in. Charlie Stramel and Hunter Haight are among the younger players competing for spots, and the Wild still have to figure out line chemistry and whether additions are needed before opening night. For a team that already knows what it has on defense, the next few weeks are really about finding out which forwards can make the group fit. [Read more 🡒]