The Dylan Larkin sweepstakes still have a clear front-runner, and Pierre LeBrun says it’s been that way for a while. Minnesota has been the most aggressive team in the trade chase, with the Wild making the most offers to Detroit since the talks began in June.
LeBrun said Minnesota views Larkin as a missing piece, and he added that Larkin would love to land there. The issue, though, is obvious: the Wild have already thinned out their trade inventory, especially after dealing for Quinn Hughes last December. That has made it difficult to assemble a package the Red Wings would actually accept.
Even so, LeBrun still pointed to Minnesota as the best fit if the sides can ever make it work.
There are also a few newer teams on the radar. New Jersey and Washington have entered the conversation, which LeBrun said was not something he would have predicted.
He noted the Devils’ Team USA connections around Larkin, while Washington earned praise for the way Chris Patrick has retooled the club without tearing it down. Utah has also talked to Detroit, but LeBrun doesn’t see them pushing especially hard because they already have so many centers, with Logan Cooley even playing wing right now.
Colorado, in his view, is simply too loaded up front.
Montreal is a different case. The Canadiens are not on Larkin’s current list, but LeBrun said they remain interested if he ever changes his mind.
He also said people in Larkin’s camp believe Montreal would be a decent fit. Still, as LeBrun stressed, the decision is Larkin’s alone.
“And you know what people are thinking as you’re saying those words, Pierre? They’re thinking, you know, the game a week or so ago where Larkin’s in Montreal and the fans are saying, ‘We want Larkin.’ Like, do you think at the bottom of his head, maybe somewhere deep down, he’s thinking maybe just maybe I will play in Canada, only specifically for this team.
LeBrun said Larkin did not ignore the reaction from Montreal fans at the Bell Centre, but that moment has not led to a change of heart so far. He also emphasized that all of the teams currently on Larkin’s list are U.S. teams.
The clock is still ticking, and LeBrun suggested that if this drags on for another two months, Larkin could widen his list even further. He also said Larkin and his representatives, led by Agent Pat Brisson, have made it clear to Red Wings GM Shawn Horcoff that they want this done sooner rather than later. Larkin asked for a trade after last season, and months later, he still has not been moved.
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