The Canadiens have two young names circulating in the Dylan Larkin chatter, and both are worth watching.
According to some sources, Montreal is showcasing Adam Engstrom in front of Kris Draper, while Oliver Kapanen is also reportedly on the Detroit Red Wings’ radar. Mathias Brunet shared the information without offering any additional details, but it’s still a notable wrinkle as the rumors around Larkin keep gaining steam.
The idea of Engstrom and Kapanen by themselves being enough for Larkin doesn’t hold up. If Montreal were serious about building a deal, the Canadiens would almost certainly need to add prospects and draft picks to the mix. One possibility mentioned is the Vegas Golden Knights’ second-round pick acquired in the Oliver Kapanen trade, though the source made clear that Michael Hage should not be part of any package.
Engstrom, 22, has played six games this season and has yet to record a point, though he does have a +2 rating. His advanced numbers are described as encouraging. Kapanen, 23, has appeared in five games without a point and sits at -1.
Both players line up with the type of return Darren Dreger described when talking about Detroit’s asking price in a possible Larkin deal. Larkin, 30, has six points in ten games and carries an $8.7 million cap hit.
At the moment, Montreal is not on his 10-team list, at least for now. Still, the Canadiens sit at 7-3-2 and have enough pieces to at least assemble a possible offer around Engstrom, Kapanen, and future picks.
For now, those are two names to keep in the conversation as the speculation continues to build.
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 🡒]