The latest Dylan Larkin chatter has sharpened the market, and it doesn’t paint a cheap path for the Canadiens.
According to Michael Russo of The Athletic, Minnesota would need to move Danila Yurov or Charlie Stramel to get Larkin. That’s the kind of return that instantly raises the bar for every other team sniffing around, Montreal included.
Russo added that the Wild have little appetite for dealing Jonas Brodin, which means the package would likely center on a young piece rather than an established NHL defenseman. In other words, Minnesota wouldn’t be offering the kind of proven roster player that usually headline these bigger swaps.
“Regarding Dylan Larkin: We know if [Minnesota] make this trade, they're gonna have to trade a Danila Yurov or a Charlie Stramel; I don't think the Wild are motivated to give up Jonas Brodin.”
- Michael Russo, The Athletic
That matters because Detroit’s ask is already clear. Pierre LeBrun reported that the Red Wings want a comparable player back for Larkin, not a pile of draft picks or prospects. So if Montreal wants to stay in the conversation, Kent Hughes may have to build something far sturdier than a futures package.
Yurov, 22, carries a $972,500 cap hit and has one goal and one assist in five games for the Wild, who are 3-1-1 to start the season. Stramel is also part of the equation in Minnesota’s case, but neither player lands anywhere near Larkin’s level of value.
For the Canadiens, the more realistic path would be an offer built around a more established NHL player. The problem is that Larkin still has to be willing to approve Montreal as a destination, and Renaud Lavoie said getting his camp on board won’t be easy.
Larkin, 30, reportedly asked for a trade from the Red Wings over the summer, and that has kept his name firmly in circulation. Based on the latest reporting, this is one situation that looks like it could drag on while the asking price keeps the pressure squarely on Hughes.
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