Montreal Canadiens fans have been handed a Saturday-night experiment, and not everyone is on board with the idea. Ahead of the Red Wings’ visit to face the Canadiens, one fan floated a plan on X to try to win over Dylan Larkin - or at least push the Detroit center toward reconsidering his reported stance on a move to Montreal.
The post, from Habs Chronicle, drew more than 38,000 views in about a day and called on supporters to make themselves heard every time Larkin had the puck. “Regardless of whether any of the Larkin and Habs rumours or speculation is true, tomorrow Habs fans should be cheering at the top of their lungs every time he touches the puck,” they write. “Convince him to come here by any way necessary.”
That idea did not exactly land cleanly with the fan base.
Plenty of replies pushed back, with several users saying Larkin has already turned down the chance to play in Montreal. One commenter wondered if things had gotten to the point where the team was begging for a player who wants no part of it.
Another said he would probably ask out again the way he did in Detroit, especially with a reported desire to stay in the U.S. Someone else argued the Canadiens should never be anyone’s second choice, while another fan called it a new low and questioned why Larkin was being treated like Sidney Crosby.
There was skepticism about Larkin’s fit too. One account said he might help bring in American talent, but didn’t sound convinced beyond that.
Still, not everyone dismissed the idea. One fan said they would be at the game and planned to start a “we want Larkin” chant on their own. Another said hearing “Trade us Larkin” would be fun.
The bigger question is whether any of this would actually move Larkin at all. There’s always the possibility that a player sees a new situation differently once he’s in it, but the chatter in Montreal may not be enough to change his mind. The reporting suggests Larkin has his eye on only a few teams, and the Canadiens are not among them right now.
For now, the situation leaves Montreal fans split between excitement and stubborn pride. With the rumours still unconfirmed, the real test Saturday may not be Larkin’s reaction - it may be what kind of noise the Bell Centre decides to make.
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Engstrom also stood out in a quieter way by leading Montreal defensemen in turnovers, though none of them turned into dangerous chances for the Predators. For a team trying to sort out its back end, that kind of performance makes the next lineup decision a little more interesting, especially if the Canadiens are looking for signs that a young defender can handle more responsibility. [Read more 🡒]
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The next step is what makes the situation worth watching. Kaiden Guhle is nearing a return, which could handle the open spot right away, while David Reinbacher remains the other major internal option if the club decides it needs a seventh defenseman. For a team trying to balance present needs with longer-term planning, the answer will say plenty about how the Canadiens see their depth chart right now. [Read more 🡒]
Canadiens Face A Delicate Dylan Larkin Test At Bell Centre
The Bell Centre crowd has a way of turning routine visits into something a little more complicated, and Dylan Larkins next trip to Montreal is already carrying an extra layer of intrigue. The Red Wings captain is off to a steady start with two points in two games this season, and with an $8.7 million cap hit, he remains the kind of player who draws attention wherever he goes.
What makes this one stand out is the backdrop around his arrival, which has turned the Canadiens home date into more than just another test on the schedule. TVA Sports reporter Anthony Martineau noted the growing conversation around how Larkin might be received in Canada, and whether the atmosphere inside the building could end up mattering beyond one night at the rink. [Read more 🡒]
