The Detroit Red Wings are keeping a close eye on the Montreal Canadiens, and the timing has turned heads because of Dylan Larkin’s trade situation.
According to Pierre LeBrun, Detroit is actively scouting Montreal “just in case Dylan Larkin adds the Habs to his list of teams.” That adds another layer to a situation that already has plenty of moving parts, especially with Nick Suzuki injured and Larkin viewed as a potential major pickup for Kent Hughes.
There were already signs Detroit’s presence in Montreal meant something. Chris Yzerman, a professional scout for the Red Wings, was at the Bell Centre on Saturday, and Kris Draper, the team’s assistant general manager, was in the press box on Tuesday. It had been noted that Draper could have been there to watch San Jose, which has shown interest in Simon Edvinsson, but LeBrun is now pointing the other way: Detroit is checking out the Canadiens.
That lines up with the broader sense that the Red Wings are doing their homework if Larkin decides to expand his list of preferred destinations. Montreal still is not on his 10-team list, according to Helene St. James, but LeBrun had previously reported that people close to Larkin believe the Canadiens would be a good fit.
Larkin is 30, has five points in eight games, a +2 rating, and an $8.7 million salary cap hit. Detroit sits at 4-3-3 and is coming off a 5-2 win in Vancouver.
For now, the picture is simple enough: Detroit is watching Montreal, and Montreal is waiting on Larkin.
In Other News...
Canadiens Fans Suddenly Have One More Reason To Watch Winnipeg
Trade chatter around Connor Hellebuyck has picked up enough that a Winnipeg watch feels a little different now, even for fans far removed from the negotiations. The Canadiens are not part of the discussions, but their upcoming meeting with the Jets suddenly carries an extra layer of intrigue because it could come against a goalie whose future is being weighed in real time.
The names being floated around the talks show how far this situation could reach, with Carolina, Buffalo and Utah mentioned as possible landing spots. No deal has been confirmed and the picture is still shifting, but Montreal supporters now have one more reason to keep an eye on Winnipeg before that matchup arrives. [Read more 🡒]
Canadiens Suddenly Feel Connected To A Defense Market Worth Watching
The defense market is already drawing plenty of attention around the league, and Montreal may have a front-row seat to how it develops. Pierre LeBrun reported that as many as ten NHL teams are involved in trade discussions surrounding Simon Edvinsson, a sign that the chatter around young blue-line help is picking up fast. With recent defenseman deals still fresh in the leagues memory, the asking price and the eventual return on a player like Edvinsson are being watched closely.
One detail that only added to the buzz was Red Wings assistant general manager Kris Draper being spotted at the Bell Centre on Tuesday. The visit was reportedly tied to scouting the San Jose Sharks, which only feeds the sense that several clubs are already positioning themselves for a larger trade market to open up. No move has been confirmed, but with teams like San Jose and Boston mentioned in the mix, this is the kind of situation that can shift quickly and leave plenty of contenders waiting to see who blinks first. [Read more 🡒]
Canadiens Suddenly Have A Waiver Option Worth Watching On Defense
A pair of waiver moves around the league created a little more to monitor on the blue line, with Daemon Hunt of the Minnesota Wild and Jack St. Ivany of the Winnipeg Jets among the names available. For a Canadiens team dealing with injuries and looking for short-term defensive depth, that kind of list always gets a second look, especially when the available players include defensemen who might help stabilize the back end without requiring a bigger roster shakeup.
St. Ivany is the more interesting name for Montreal because the right-shot profile matters when a team is trying to patch together a lineup. He would be the sort of depth option worth watching rather than someone who would transform the Canadiens' defense, but in this part of the season those smaller moves can still matter. No decision has been made involving Montreal yet, but the waiver wire has at least given the Canadiens something relevant to track. [Read more 🡒]