Mike Rupp didn’t exactly tiptoe around the Dylan Larkin chatter.
On NHL Network, the former NHL forward and current analyst went big on what it would mean if the Detroit Red Wings center ever ended up in Montreal. In Rupp’s view, that kind of move would be a franchise-altering win for Kent Hughes.
“''If they would be able to land that, Montreal Canadiens retroactively give Kent Hughes the GM of the year because we sit there we talk about the team that salary capwise, talentwise, future-wise it's the best position moving forward it's the Montreal Canadiens."
Rupp’s comments came during a discussion about Larkin’s future, and they line up with a similar thought from TSN’s Bryan Hayes, who also said a move to Montreal would make sense.
The intrigue starts with Larkin himself. The 30-year-old put up 67 points last season on a Red Wings team that missed the playoffs, and the relationship between him and management is still described as strained. His trade request is still active, but there’s one major hurdle standing in the way: his no-trade clause, which gives him complete control over any possible destination.
One detail that could matter for the Canadiens is Larkin’s friendship with Cole Caufield. If Larkin were open to Montreal, that connection could give the Canadiens at least a little leverage.
For now, though, the buzz is louder than the reality. There’s no sign that Larkin is seriously weighing Montreal as his next stop, even if the idea has plenty of people talking.
In Other News...
Canadiens May Already Be Looking At A Huge Lane Hutson Price
Cale Makar just reset the market in a way the NHL had never seen before, becoming the first player to land a contract with an annual average value north of $20 million. For Montreal, that kind of number is worth keeping an eye on because Lane Hutson is already locked in on an eight-year deal at $8.85 million AAV, a contract that looks substantial now but could age very differently if his trajectory keeps pointing upward.
The biggest difference, of course, is where each player was in his career when the deal came together. Makar had already established himself as one of the leagues elite defensemen, while Hutson is still in the stage where his ceiling is being defined. If the Canadiens young star continues to develop and the salary cap keeps climbing, the next conversation around his value could be a lot bigger than the one Montreal just finished having. [Read more 🡒]
Canadiens Fans Should Watch One Thing In The Dylan Larkin Buzz
The Dylan Larkin chatter has a way of following the Canadiens around whenever analysts start sketching out big-picture trade fits, and Montreal is an easy place for that kind of speculation to land. The appeal is obvious enough from the outside: a player of Larkins caliber would instantly reshape the conversation in Montreal, while the Canadiens could present the kind of long-term destination some insiders believe would make sense if a deal ever became realistic.
But the real thing to watch is less about the rumor itself and more about who actually controls it. Larkin has a no-trade clause, which gives him the final say on any move, and the reporting around him has suggested he is looking for a Stanley Cup contender. Until that part of the equation changes, the buzz remains exactly that, with no confirmed trade and no official word to push the story beyond speculation. [Read more 🡒]
Canucks Still Have Room To Make A Move Fans Want To See
The Vancouver Canucks are still sitting on nearly $18 million in salary cap space, which keeps them in the middle of the summer conversation even after the big-ticket action around the league has slowed down. With that kind of flexibility, they have room to chase the kind of name fans would recognize, and the list of possibilities has already included Patrik Laine, Eeli Tolvanen and Vladimir Tarasenko.
For Montreal, the ripple effect is part of the intrigue, because any move the Canucks make could shape the market around players the Canadiens are monitoring too. There has also been some speculation about Dylan Larkin as a possible fit in Montreal, though nothing concrete has materialized and the cap math only adds another layer to the uncertainty. For now, the talking points are louder than the transactions, and the real question is whether Vancouver decides to use that space before the opportunity slips away. [Read more 🡒]