Dylan Larkin declines yet another perfect trade offer
Photo credit: Danny Wild-Imagn Images
Dylan Larkin's stance on a trade to Canada hasn't budged, according to TSN insider Darren Dreger, who addressed the ongoing speculation linking the Detroit Red Wings center to the Montreal Canadiens.
Speaking on McKenna & Starr, Dreger indicated that despite Montreal's continued involvement in trade conversations around the league, Larkin's list of acceptable destinations still excludes any Canadian club.
What Dreger Said
Kent Hughes continues to have conversations with a lot of teams; I think the Dylan Larkin ship has sailed...he just doesn't seem to be willing to reconsider his position on a Canadian team.
The comment lines up with earlier reporting that Larkin's preferred destinations skew heavily toward American markets, with teams like the Minnesota Wild, Vegas Golden Knights, Florida Panthers and Dallas Stars mentioned as clubs he'd be open to joining.
Why Montreal Made Sense
On paper, the fit was easy to see. The Canadiens have been searching for a true second-line center for years, and pairing Larkin with Nick Suzuki would have given Montreal one of the deeper groups down the middle in the league.
Montreal also has the cap room and prospect capital to make a competitive offer if Detroit ever softened its asking price.
But Larkin controls his destination through a full no-movement clause, and Dreger's comments suggest that leverage isn't shifting anytime soon.
For a Canadiens team still hunting for a difference-maker at center, this is one more indication that the answer may need to come from elsewhere.
Kent Hughes will likely keep working the phones regardless. Whether that leads anywhere without Larkin remains the open question in Montreal.
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