The Red Wings have set a pretty clear line in the Dylan Larkin situation: if they move their captain, they want help now.
That reported stance comes from Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press, and it’s the kind of asking price that could put the Canadiens in a tough spot.
Detroit isn’t looking to rebuild around draft picks or prospects. The club wants players who can step into the lineup and contribute right away.
That detail matters because Larkin has already requested a trade, putting the Red Wings in a position where they have to squeeze as much value as possible out of a messy situation. At the same time, the organization is trying to avoid sending the wrong message to Lucas Raymond and Moritz Seider, two players the team clearly sees as cornerstones.
Detroit’s thinking is straightforward enough: after losing its captain, it doesn’t want to look like it’s waving the white flag. Landing immediate help would at least let the Red Wings show Raymond and Seider that the team still plans to compete, even if Larkin is moved.
That’s where Montreal runs into trouble. The Canadiens have often leaned on prospects and picks in deals, but that kind of package doesn’t appear to fit what Detroit wants here. To get the Red Wings’ attention, Kent Hughes would likely need to put established NHL players on the table.
Unless Kirby Dach and Kaiden Guhle interest them - depending on how Detroit views them - we don't see how Kent Hughes can pull this off.
In Other News...
Canadiens Face A Costly Zachary Bolduc Decision This Summer
Zachary Bolducs next contract is already becoming one of the more delicate decisions on the Canadiens summer to-do list. The young forward remains unsigned for the coming season, and the conversation around his future has quickly shifted from simple paperwork to a real debate over whether Montreal should push for a bridge deal or commit longer term while he continues to develop.
TVA Sports journalist Renaud Lavoie has cast doubt on the idea that Bolduc is ready for a big-ticket payday, pointing to the growing pains that still come with a young player finding his place. For the Canadiens, the question is less about urgency than timing, with management weighing his development and eventual role before deciding whether he is ready to be paid like a core piece or still needs another step first. [Read more 🡒]
Red Wings Depth Plan Suddenly Puts Evgenii Dadonov In Focus
Evgenii Dadonovs name has surfaced again in the kind of offseason chatter that tends to follow veteran forwards with options still on the table. Reports have him drawing interest from KHL clubs such as Traktor Chelyabinsk, Shanghai and Ak Bars Kazan, but the bigger detail for a North American audience is that he is reportedly trying to stay on this side of the ocean. For a player at this stage of his career, that makes the next move less about speculation and more about fit, leverage and timing.
The Canadiens also have their own reach into that same Russian and European talent stream to keep an eye on, with prospects Vinzenz Rohrer and Alexander Gordin heading toward different opportunities abroad. Rohrer is expected to sign with EV Zug in Switzerland, where he could land among the leagues top earners, while Gordin has been dealt to Izhstal Izhevsk. In a market where rights changes and overseas landing spots can reshape development paths quickly, Dadonovs situation stands out because it is still unresolved and still tied to where he ultimately wants to play. [Read more 🡒]