The Detroit Red Wings locked up Alex DeBrincat, but that didn’t clear the air around the bigger questions hanging over their roster.
Puck Pedia reported that the 28-year-old forward has signed a seven-year contract with a $13 million cap hit. The deal comes with a no-trade clause for the first four years, followed by a 10-team trade list, then an 18-team modified no-trade clause, and finally a 13-team modified no-trade clause. The salary breaks down as $15 million in 2027-28, then $12.93 million in each of the next five seasons, before dropping to $11.35 million in 2033-34.
Even with DeBrincat secured, the Red Wings still have more unresolved business. They have 12 forwards, with six forwards under contract for next year.
That includes Dylan Larkin, whose situation remains a major talking point. Emily Kaplan said the trade chatter is quiet for now, but the sense around the player and team is that the story may not be going away anytime soon.
“Told it’s really quiet. No momentum for a trade right now. That said, I get the sense the relationship between Larkin and the Red Wings is at such a place it’s just a matter of when, not if.”
Kaplan also noted that Detroit is not interested in taking futures back if it moves either Larkin or Simon Edvinsson.
“Every trade they’re looking at for both of these guys, they’re asking for NHL-caliber players in return, not futures.”
Larkin’s trade list is another piece of the puzzle, and it still does not include the Montreal Canadiens. Pierre LeBrun said there was no change there as of yesterday.
“And I can tell you that I checked on this day to see if there was perhaps a little change of heart from Dylan Larkin as far as adding a new team to his list, i.e. Montreal.
No, his list has not changed despite the love-in from Saturday night. It is at 10 teams, which has expanded from the beginning, but does not include Montreal at this point.”
Montreal has been working toward a major move of its own, with Matthew Knies and Kirill Marchenko mentioned as targets. The Canadiens would also like to talk to Detroit about Larkin, but they can afford to wait with Michael Hage expected at the end of the year. The question now is whether Larkin would feel differently about Montreal if he’s still with the Red Wings three months from now.
Across the league, the New York Rangers are also checking the goalie market. Darren Dreger said they’ve reached out to teams about veteran goaltenders with limited term remaining, but there’s no sense of urgency yet.
“But again, they’re not panicking in this situation. Dylan Garand will get a great opportunity here to run with the ball.
They’ve got Joonas Korpisalo, who’s still a few weeks away from being able to return. So if this strong start goes off the rails in the near future, maybe the appetite for that urgency changes for Chris Drury and the Rangers.”
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 🡒]