Dylan Larkin breaks his silence on Canadiens fans chanting his name in Montreal
Photo credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Dylan Larkin says he never imagined hearing "We want Larkin" chants in Montreal, and he had big praise for the Bell Centre crowd.
Dylan Larkin has had his say on one of the strangest moments of his career.
The Detroit Red Wings center heard Canadiens fans chant his name at the Bell Centre on Saturday night, and he admitted it caught him off guard.
The chants started early, within his first couple of shifts, and they kept coming through the first two periods.
Larkin called the whole thing interesting afterward and said he never would have imagined it happening in that building at any point in his career.
“It was interesting. I never would've imagined that in this building in my career. But they're passionate fans. In my opinion, it's the best atmosphere in hockey, and they're knowledgeable, and they love their team, and that's how I read into it. And after a few seconds, it was just back to focusing on the game.”"
- Dylan Larkin
- Dylan Larkin
What stood out was his tone. He didn't brush the fans off.
He called the Bell Centre atmosphere the best in hockey and described the crowd as knowledgeable and in love with their team.
After a few seconds, he said, it was back to focusing on the game.
Why the chants carry weight
Larkin asked Detroit for a trade in June, and Montreal fans have clearly noticed.
He's 30 and signed to an eight-year contract with a full no-trade clause, so he controls where he goes.
Montreal reportedly isn't on his approved list.
Asked about playing for the Canadiens, he declined to speculate and stressed that he's still a Red Wing.
Frank Seravalli recently pointed to Montreal as a team with the assets to get a deal done.
That doesn't change the clause.
Another tough night for Detroit
On the ice, Montreal won 1-0 in a shootout.
Jacob Fowler stopped 30 shots for his second NHL shutout, and Zachary Bolduc scored in the sixth round.
Daniil Tarasov also made 30 saves for Detroit, which fell to 1-3-1 and faces New Jersey on Tuesday.
Whether the chants mean anything for Larkin's future is a question only he can answer, and he isn't giving much away yet.
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