Darren Dreger reveals the current price to acquire Dylan Larkin
Photo credit: Brian Bradshaw Sevald-Imagn Images
Darren Dreger has put a price tag on Dylan Larkin, and the Montreal Canadiens could afford it. The catch is that the Detroit Red Wings captain controls where he goes, and Montreal is not on his radar.
Speaking on TSN 690, the insider outlined the return Detroit expects and whether Montreal fits the mold.
Dreger said:
It's a couple of grade-A prospects...a 1st...a top 9 player; I think Montreal would pay that...but unless there's a...complete change of heart, I just don't see Larkin adding Montreal to that list
What Detroit Wants in Return
Larkin is signed through 2031 at an $8.7 million cap hit, so any suitor is buying years of top-six production at a fair number.
Detroit has shown it will not settle for a futures-only package, which is why the top-nine player in Dreger's formula matters so much. The Red Wings want help that can play now, not just lottery tickets.
Montreal has the assets to build that kind of offer. The Canadiens have prospect depth, draft capital and NHL-ready forwards, and reports have suggested they are prepared to present a package aimed at getting a deal over the line. Few teams can match that mix without raiding their NHL roster.
Why Larkin Remains the Roadblock
Money is not the issue. Permission is. Larkin holds a full no-trade clause, and his approved list sits at 10 teams that, per Pierre LeBrun, are all contenders unwilling to gut their cores.
Montreal is absent. Fans at the Bell Centre chanted for him recently, yet Larkin said he would not go there while he is still a Red Wing.
Dreger's read is a blow for Montreal. The Canadiens can pay the price, but they cannot buy a change of heart.
Unless Larkin adds the club to his list, Detroit's asking price stays theoretical, and the standoff drags on. Detroit shows no urgency to accept less, so suitors may simply have to wait for Larkin to move first. That keeps the Larkin saga alive for now.
Also read on House Of Hockey :
Maple Leafs make an unexpected addition to their roster
Maple Leafs make an unexpected addition to their roster