The Montreal Canadiens still have a path to Dylan Larkin, even if it’s a narrow one right now.
Larkin remains one of the biggest names still out there in the summer trade market, and the Detroit Red Wings have not been able to move their top center after he asked for a trade a few months ago. One of the biggest reasons this has dragged on is his no-trade clause, which has kept Detroit from simply dealing him wherever it wants.
That clause became a talking point again on Thursday, when the reporting around Larkin’s list of approved destinations split in two directions. Ansar Khan of MLive wrote that Larkin had added the Dallas Stars to the teams he would waive for.
Later in the day, Helene St. James reported that nothing had changed and that the list still consisted only of the Golden Knights, the Wild and the Florida Panthers.
For Montreal, the longer this sits unresolved, the better its chances look. At some point, this situation has to get settled, and the Red Wings likely do not want it hanging over into the season.
Larkin has spent 11 seasons in Detroit and has built a reputation as a top center. Last season, he put up 34 goals and 33 assists.
But the trade request appears tied to the lack of team success during his time with the Red Wings. In his career, he has made the playoffs only once, and that came in his rookie year in 2015-16.
The Canadiens, meanwhile, are coming off back-to-back playoff appearances and reached the Eastern Conference Final. Their core is in place for several seasons, and it is a young group that should keep growing.
That is exactly the kind of environment Montreal would like to sell. The Canadiens want a player who is still in his prime and has term left on his contract, and Larkin fits that description. He has five seasons remaining on his current deal, with a full no-trade clause this season and next, followed by 10-team no-trade lists for the final three years.
There are still major obstacles before anything can happen. Larkin would first have to add Montreal to his list, and then the two teams would have to hammer out a trade - no easy task between division rivals.
Still, the fit is obvious enough that the Canadiens should keep pushing. Their roster needs line up with Larkin’s game, and Montreal’s position as a team built to contend for the foreseeable future could make it a destination he would consider. The Canadiens may have to wait this out, but they should not stop trying.
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