On Friday, Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin got a frosty reception on his return to Hockeytown, a few months after asking his hometown team to trade him. The boos rained down from a crowd he once belonged to as a kid, and that response may have only strengthened his desire to leave.
Larkin has played 12 NHL seasons in Detroit and has just one playoff series win to show for it. He finally got his chance to win at the Winter Olympics in Milano-Cortina, where he helped Team USA capture its first gold medal since the Miracle on Ice in 1980.
After the season, he asked to be moved to a contender, and the Minnesota Wild have been frequently mentioned as his preferred destination. Other possible landing spots for Larkin have been rumored to be the Florida Panthers, Vegas Golden Knights, Dallas Stars, Tampa Bay Lightning, Colorado Avalanche, and the Washington Capitals.
Multiple reports say Larkin wants to stay in the United States and only join a contender, which seemingly rules out the Montreal Canadiens, a legitimate Cup threat that could use another quality center behind Nick Suzuki.
But after such a cold homecoming, Larkin may be more eager than ever to leave, and that could widen his list of acceptable destinations to include Montreal.
Montreal Canadiens have the pieces to make a Dylan Larkin trade work and it really is up to the player
The Canadiens have plenty of assets to make a deal work and could give Larkin one of the league's best chances to win right now. However, Detroit would likely prefer help in the present, which could complicate things.
The Habs could offer a middle-six forward like Alex Newhook and/or Oliver Kapanen, along with a marquee prospect like Michael Hage, who is currently playing at the University of Michigan and could stay in the state.
That would be more than enough to land a quality second-line center, or even a top-line one if injuries hit, and adding Larkin could be what pushes Montreal over the hump. The Michigan native is coming off a career-best scoring season, with a high of 34 goals and 33 assists for 67 points in 74 games.
Larkin's proven to be a reliable 70-to-80-point scorer who would fit naturally on the second line between Ivan Demidov and Juraj Slafkovsky. He also brings welcome versatility as an elite two-way center who could help anchor the second power play as well as man the top penalty kill unit.
If Montreal can put together an offer Detroit can't turn down and convince Larkin he can win with another Original Six franchise, a blockbuster deal could come together.
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