Pierre LeBrun has thrown a wrinkle into the Dylan Larkin conversation, and it centers on Michael Hage.
The Montreal Canadiens, by LeBrun’s read, would not include Hage in a broader trade package for Larkin. That part lines up with the idea that Montreal has other pieces it can use if it ever chooses to chase the Detroit captain.
But LeBrun raised the bigger question: what if Detroit wanted Hage alone, with no other assets attached? His answer wasn’t a clean yes or no. It was the one place in the discussion where he admitted he could see both sides.
That makes Hage the real pressure point in any potential deal.
Earlier reporting from Marco D’Amico and Pierre McGuire suggested Detroit is apparently interested in Hage as part of a possible Larkin trade. Darren Dreger also said Montreal would be willing to offer two top prospects, a first-round pick and a top-nine forward.
The complication, of course, is that Hage is still at the University of Michigan, and D’Amico previously reported that he would join the Canadiens in April.
Larkin is 30, has six points in ten games, and carries an $8.7 million cap hit through 2031. From Montreal’s side, that kind of age and contract makes it hard to justify giving up its top prospect.
There are other names Detroit could push for instead. Adam Engstrom, Oliver Kapanen and Kirby Dach are reportedly being evaluated as well, and Kent Hughes has draft picks he could put into the conversation.
Even then, none of it matters unless Larkin is willing to go. If Montreal is not on his approved trade list, the rest of the discussion stays in the hypothetical lane.
As LeBrun put it on TSN 690: "I don't see the Canadiens, this is just my own opinion, ever saying yes to including him in a large package for Larkin. I guess where, where I kind of get myself in a 50/50 debate with myself is: what if the ask was just Hage, straight up?"
In Other News...
Canadiens Just Got Pulled Into A Dylan Larkin Roster Watch
The Canadiens have found themselves attached to one of the more intriguing names on the trade market, with Montreal reportedly putting young talent into the conversation around Dylan Larkin. The Red Wings center remains a significant target, and the way the Canadiens are positioning their assets suggests they are at least serious about seeing where this can go. For a club still sorting out its long-term picture, the chance to land a player of Larkins caliber naturally changes the temperature around any discussion.
There is still a major hurdle in the process, though, and it could end up being the one that matters most. Larkin has not yet given Montreal the green light as a destination, even as talks continue and his suspension from Detroit adds another layer to the situation. Sources say the Canadiens could be prepared to build an offer around prospects and draft picks, but for now the real question is whether the sides can get past the approval stage and into something more concrete. [Read more 🡒]
Canadiens May Be Getting Boxed Out Of Dylan Larkin Sweepstakes
The Canadiens have been circling the center market for a while, and Dylan Larkin has naturally become one of the more intriguing names to watch. Detroit has suspended him without pay after he refused to play, and the Red Wings are still working through trade discussions with multiple teams, with Montreal believed to be among the clubs at least in the mix. For a Canadiens front office looking to add help down the middle, it is the kind of situation worth monitoring closely.
Still, the path to Montreal does not look especially clean. Larkin has not expanded his preferred destination list, and the Canadiens are not on it, which leaves Montreal waiting on a player who may never view them as a landing spot. With the market for centers already thin and alternatives such as Ryan O'Reilly and Mark Scheifele also in the conversation, the Canadiens may have to decide whether to keep pressing on Larkin or pivot before the rest of the league leaves them behind. [Read more 🡒]
Canadiens Are Turning This Surprise Surge Into Something Much Bigger
The Canadiens have quietly turned a strong little run into something far more meaningful, winning five of their last six and climbing to second in the Atlantic Division. What makes the stretch stand out is how they have managed it without some important pieces, while also working through earlier power-play issues that could have slowed them down. Instead, Montreal has found ways to keep stacking points, nudging its goal differential to plus-5 and looking more stable by the night.
Jacob Fowler has given the club a lift in goal, and the blue line has done plenty of heavy lifting too, with Lane Hutson, Noah Dobson and Alexandre Carrier all helping steady things. Up front, Cole Caufield has been part of the push as the Canadiens keep finding contributions in different places, which is exactly the kind of depth a team needs when the lineup is not at full strength. The bigger question now is how long this surge can keep rolling, and whether Montreal can keep turning a surprising burst into something that lasts. [Read more 🡒]