Dylan Larkin’s trade wish list still doesn’t include Montreal, and that hasn’t changed even with the Red Wings’ latest suspension drama hanging over the situation.
Pierre LeBrun says Larkin has not added any teams to his list of 10 preferred destinations, and the Canadiens are still not on it. For now, his group remains the Hurricanes, Devils, Wild, Capitals, Panthers, Golden Knights, Lightning, Stars, Mammoth, and Avalanche. No Canadian team is included.
That leaves Montreal on the outside looking in, at least at this stage. The sense around the situation is that more teams could be added soon after the suspension announced by the Red Wings, with pressure continuing to build, but LeBrun’s update makes one thing plain: Larkin still hasn’t expanded the list.
Larkin, 30, has six points in 10 games with a +3 rating and an $8.7 million cap hit. The Red Wings managed a 4-1 win over Chicago without him.
Detroit’s general manager is already talking with several teams, including some that are not on Larkin’s list, and it’s fair to assume the Canadiens are among the clubs in the mix. Kris Draper has been at several Canadiens games, and Marco D’Amico has described him as the wild card in all of this.
Still, Larkin’s stance sends a clear signal. He has chosen to stop playing to force the issue and will be suspended without pay indefinitely, while keeping the same preferred destinations in place.
Detroit, now 6-4-3, is moving on without him. Montreal, sitting at 8-3-2, may have to look elsewhere if Larkin winds up going to another U.S. team instead.
The market for centers is thin, which is why names like Ryan O’Reilly, who has 14 points in 13 games with Nashville, and Mark Scheifele are being kicked around as alternatives. But Michael Hage is not available and has to stay off the table in any deal talk.
A late twist is still possible, as Chris Johnston suggested. For the moment, though, Montreal remains outside the circle.
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