The Dylan Larkin talk keeps circling back to Montreal, and the latest word suggests the Canadiens may be sitting on the strongest offer in the mix.
Georges Laraque said that Montreal has the biggest proposal on the table for Larkin, and David Ettedgui had been checking in with contacts in Detroit to better understand where things stand. What came back was enough for Laraque to frame it on the air as “Montreal or nothing”.
Detroit, for its part, does not need to force the issue. Unlike Connor Hellebuyck, Larkin began the season with his team before stepping away, so there is no obvious route to getting him back right away. With Larkin currently off the payroll, the Red Wings can afford to wait.
Larkin had six points in 10 games this season before his suspension, with two goals. Over his career, he has 278 goals in 818 games, production that would make him a coveted piece for any general manager.
That is why the Red Wings would have no interest in settling for less than their asking price. It’s reasonable to think Shawn Horcoff has already told Pat Brisson he won’t move off that stance if his client refuses to go to Montreal.
Unless another team on Larkin’s list decides to meet the Canadiens’ level, this could come down to whether someone else is willing to match what Kent Hughes has already put forward.
The Montreal speculation is not coming out of nowhere. Renaud Lavoie echoed the same idea last night, while Chris Johnston had reported last week that Canadian teams had not been given a firm no. La Presse’s Mathias Brunet also reported that Larkin was not shutting the door on Montreal.
Elliotte Friedman added another layer in his 32 Thoughts column, wondering whether Larkin views any of the offers from teams on his list as strong enough to move him. He also suggested the Wild or the Canadiens should bring the matter to a close.
Chris Yzerman’s presence as a scout at the Bell Centre earlier this month only added to the noise, and in hindsight it now looks like one more piece in a gathering picture.
The Canadiens have also given the story some on-ice momentum. They are 8-3-2, sit second in the Atlantic Division, and have won four straight, including last night’s 5-2 win in Dallas. Detroit, meanwhile, is 19th in the NHL.
If the Red Wings stay firm, the final call may rest with Kent Hughes and how far he wants to go to land Dylan Larkin in Canadiens colors.
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That matters because the market for centers is already thin, with Ryan O'Reilly and Mark Scheifele among the other names being floated. For Montreal, it leaves an important question hanging over the rest of the trade chatter: whether the Canadiens can stay involved long enough to matter, or whether this is another sweepstakes they are watching from the outside. [Read more 🡒]