Dylan Larkin’s return to Hockeytown did not exactly feel like a homecoming.
The Red Wings captain was met with boos on Friday, a chilly reception from the same crowd he once grew up around in Detroit. A few months after asking his hometown team to trade him, that reaction could easily harden his stance and make the exit feel even more inevitable.
Larkin has spent 12 NHL seasons in Detroit and has only one playoff series win to show for it. This winter, he finally got a taste of winning on a bigger stage, helping Team USA capture gold at the Winter Olympics in Milano-Cortina - the Americans’ first since the Miracle on Ice in 1980.
After the season, he made it clear he wanted a move to a contender. Minnesota has been the team most often linked to him as a preferred landing spot, and other rumored destinations have included the Florida Panthers, Vegas Golden Knights, Dallas Stars, Tampa Bay Lightning, Colorado Avalanche and Washington Capitals.
Reports have also indicated that Larkin wants to remain in the United States and join only a contender, which would seem to shut the door on Montreal. The Canadiens are a legitimate Cup threat and could use another strong center behind Nick Suzuki, but they are not in the U.S.
Still, that frosty night in Detroit may have changed the mood. If Larkin’s patience with the Wings is wearing thinner, Montreal could suddenly become more realistic.
The Canadiens have the kind of trade capital that could get Detroit’s attention, and they can offer Larkin a real chance to win right away. The catch is that the Red Wings would likely want help now, which could make the deal harder to structure.
Montreal could put together a package built around a middle-six forward such as Alex Newhook and/or Oliver Kapanen, plus a premium prospect like Michael Hage, who is currently at the University of Michigan and could stay in the state.
That sort of return would be enough to land a quality second-line center, or even a top-line one if injuries strike. And Larkin would bring more than scoring. He is coming off a career-best offensive season with 34 goals and 33 assists for 67 points in 74 games, and he has built a reputation as a dependable 70-to-80-point producer.
He would also fit cleanly into Montreal’s lineup, potentially centering the second line between Ivan Demidov and Juraj Slafkovsky. Beyond that, he offers the kind of all-situations value contenders covet: a strong two-way center who could help on the second power play and handle the top penalty-kill role.
In Other News...
Canadiens Showed Real Fight But One New Concern Could Linger
The Canadiens got the kind of response they needed against Pittsburgh, pushing back after a rough stretch and forcing the game past regulation before falling in overtime. Montreals top line was again at the center of it, with Cole Caufield, Nick Suzuki and Chris Kreider driving the offense and giving the club a much-needed spark when it found itself chasing the game.
The bigger concern may be on the blue line, where Alexandre Carrier exited early and never returned, leaving his status up in the air afterward. For a team that just showed it can claw its way back into a game, losing another defenseman would be a tough complication to absorb, especially with the Canadiens trying to build on a performance that offered plenty of encouragement even in defeat. [Read more 🡒]
Canadiens Fans Have Every Reason To Be Furious About That OT Loss
The Canadiens had every reason to feel they left points on the table after an overtime loss to Pittsburgh that already had plenty of tension before the final sequence. Montreal got the start it wanted with Cole Caufield opening the scoring, then watched Chris Kreider and Ivan Demidov help push the game to extra time in a matchup that felt tight all night.
In overtime, though, the conversation shifted to a disputed sequence that left the Canadiens and their fans seething. Ivan Demidov appeared to be impeded on the play leading into the Penguins winner, and Thomas Novaks goal counted anyway, turning a hard-fought game into a frustrating finish that is sure to linger for Montreal well beyond the final horn. [Read more 🡒]
Canadiens Deadline Pursuit Was Bigger Than Fans Realized
The Canadiens were closer to making a major move at the last trade deadline than many around the team realized. Jeff Gorton said Montreal was in serious discussions with two different teams, a sign that Kent Hughes and the front office were pushing hard to add in a market where the cost kept climbing and the competition for impact players stayed fierce. Footage from the period also showed Hughes putting a hefty package on the table, underscoring how aggressively the Canadiens were trying to explore their options.
Even without a deal getting across the line, the episode adds more context to how Montreal has been operating under Hughes and Gorton, especially with the organization still balancing present-day upgrades against the bigger-picture plan. The deadline chatter also sits alongside the broader swirl of rumors around Matthew Knies and the shifting landscape in Toronto, where management changes can alter the way trade talks unfold. For the Canadiens, the takeaway is clear: they were in the hunt, and the price tag was substantial. [Read more 🡒]