The Canadiens’ search for a second-line center has pointed them straight at Dylan Larkin, and the real question now is whether Montreal is prepared to pay the kind of price that could actually move Detroit’s captain.
That part of the story has changed more than the target itself. The interest in Larkin has been kicking around for weeks. What’s new is the sense that Montreal may be ready to get serious, with Frank Seravalli saying on Frankly Hockey that the Canadiens have stayed in the mix and could be willing to put together a major trade package.
Larkin also got a taste of what Montreal can feel like when the building is fired up. Canadiens fans were chanting “We want Larkin” at the Bell Centre this week, and Seravalli said that experience may have shifted things just enough to matter.
For now, Larkin’s no-trade protection has been the obvious roadblock. But after seeing the atmosphere firsthand, Seravalli wondered whether that could change.
Larkin sounded taken with it after Thursday’s game. “It was interesting,” he told reporters after the game.
“I never would have imagined that in this building in my career. They’re passionate fans; this is, in my opinion, the best atmosphere in hockey.
They’re knowledgeable and they love their team, so that’s how I read into it. But after a few seconds, it was just back to focusing on the game.”
Seravalli suggested Montreal’s own American players could help sell the destination, since they would understand what the market is like from the inside. He said the visit may have “planted a seed” for Larkin. He also pointed to Chris Kreider and Cole Caufield as players who would know what it means to play in the Canadian spotlight as Americans.
Even if Larkin becomes open to the idea, the harder part comes next. Detroit is not going to move him cheaply, and any conversation would start with a hefty price tag.
Seravalli referenced an earlier Canadiens offer for Columbus’ (now Toronto’s) Kirill Marchenko that included two current NHL forwards, one current NHL defenseman, a first-round pick, and a conditional future pick that could become a first. Because Larkin would address a bigger need, Seravalli said Montreal might be willing to go even further.
There is still one more major wrinkle: the Red Wings are in the same division. Seravalli said that makes this the kind of trade Detroit would probably least want to do. Even so, he added that there have been whispers Montreal could find a way if Larkin gives them the opening.
For now, everything still comes back to Larkin himself - and whether Montreal’s pull is strong enough to turn interest into something real.
In Other News...
Canadiens Blue Line Suddenly Puts David Reinbacher In Focus
A thinning blue line has suddenly pushed David Reinbacher into the conversation in Montreal. The Canadiens recalled the young defenseman from the Laval Rocket after Mike Matheson went down injured, leaving the club with only six healthy blueliners as it gets ready for a matchup with the Washington Capitals.
Reinbachers arrival adds intrigue to a situation the Canadiens did not have much time to manage, but his actual role is still unsettled. Montreal has not yet confirmed whether he will make his debut against Washington or where he would slot in if he does, which leaves the club balancing immediate need with a more cautious look at how it wants to deploy him. [Read more 🡒]
Canadiens Interest In Dylan Larkin Comes Down To One Big Thing
Dylan Larkins situation in Detroit remains one of the more closely watched storylines around the league, and it has obvious appeal for a Canadiens front office still looking for a meaningful swing. He has not rescinded his trade request from the Red Wings and is still interested in being moved this season, while his no-movement clause gives him control over where this goes next. Reports have him open to about ten teams, a group that includes several contenders and a few clubs with clear cap space or roster flexibility.
Montreal has shown serious interest, which makes sense for a team that would love to add a player of Larkins caliber if the opportunity ever materializes. The catch is simple: he is not currently open to playing there, even though the Canadiens are said to be willing to put together a significant offer if that stance changes. For now, it is less a full-blown pursuit than a waiting game, with Montreal keeping tabs on a possibility that may depend on one big shift in Larkins thinking. [Read more 🡒]
Canadiens May Be Fixing The Problem That Hurt Them Most
After a shaky start to the season in one of the areas that had hurt them most, the Canadiens are at least showing signs of a fix on the penalty kill. Against Buffalo, Montreal protected a 3-1 lead long enough to survive a Sabres push and eventually win in a shootout, but the more encouraging part came when the game turned chippy and special teams became a factor.
Montreals penalty killers handled every Buffalo man advantage in the game, and the recent trend now matters as much as the result itself. The Canadiens have strung together a run of successful kills over their last two games, a welcome answer after early-season trouble with power-play goals against had put extra pressure on the rest of the roster. [Read more 🡒]