Dylan Larkin trade to Canadiens could hinge on one key factor, insider says
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Dylan Larkin heard "We Want Larkin" chants in Montreal, and Renaud Lavoie says the Canadiens aren't the problem for the Red Wings center.
Dylan Larkin walked into a welcome nobody in Detroit saw coming.
The Red Wings center got cheers during warmups Saturday night at the Bell Centre, and the crowd kept the "We Want Larkin" chants alive while Montreal beat Detroit 1-0 in a shootout.
Afterward, Larkin sounded genuinely caught off guard.
He said he never would have imagined hearing that in that building, called it the best atmosphere in hockey, and explained that he snapped back into game mode after a few seconds.
Sportsnet shared his thoughts on the strange situation, with Eric Engels getting the reaction.
Why the Canadiens aren't the issue
TVA Sports insider Renaud Lavoie says Larkin has nothing against the Canadiens, and he believes it's quite the opposite.
"I don't think Dylan Larkin has anything against the Canadiens whatsoever. Quite the opposite. But it's the people around him who need convincing. Maybe some applause tonight [Saturday] could make his loved ones say: You know what? They really seem to like him in Montreal."
- Renaud Lavoie
- Renaud Lavoie
The real hurdle, according to Lavoie, is the people around the 30-year-old, who still need to be convinced.
His thinking was that a loud ovation could get Larkin's loved ones saying that Montreal really does seem to like him.
That matters because Larkin has asked out of Detroit and holds a full no-trade clause.
He has widened his list of acceptable teams, but no Canadian club is on it.
What happens next
Montreal is still interested. David Pagnotta reported that the Canadiens told Detroit they're serious if Larkin is willing to go, and an NHL executive told Frank Seravalli that Larkin could end this saga by adding the Canadiens to his list.
His $8.7 million cap hit runs through 2030-31.
For now, he's still a Red Wing.
Larkin has a goal and an assist through three games this season, and when asked about playing for Montreal, he declined to speculate and pointed out that he's still a member of Detroit.
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