The Montreal Canadiens may have accomplished something Saturday night that NHL general managers rarely manage through negotiations: making a star player feel genuinely wanted before a trade is even on the table.
When Canadiens fans began chanting “We want Larkin” during Montreal’s October 10 matchup against the Detroit Red Wings, it created one of the more unusual moments of the young NHL season. Dylan Larkin was still wearing Detroit’s uniform, but thousands of Montreal fans were openly campaigning for him to become their next star centre.
Now, NHL insider Elliotte Friedman has added another layer to an already fascinating situation.
Speaking on Monday’s 32 Thoughts: The Podcast, Friedman acknowledged that Larkin may have considered Montreal despite indications that his preference remains playing in the United States.
That doesn’t mean a blockbuster trade is coming. But it raises a question worth exploring: Could the Canadiens finally convince Larkin that Montreal offers something he has been missing in Detroit?
With an $8.7 million contract, a confirmed trade request and five seasons remaining on his deal, this is about much more than an enthusiastic crowd.
What Elliotte Friedman Revealed About Dylan Larkin and Montreal
According to Sportsnet’s October 12 NHL rumour roundup, Friedman addressed whether the reaction at the Bell Centre might influence Larkin’s thinking.
“I think he’s at least considered it, but I don’t know that it’s likely,” Friedman explained.
That’s a particularly important distinction.
For months, the biggest obstacle to any potential Canadiens trade has been Larkin’s apparent preference to remain south of the border. He controls his destination through a no-trade clause, meaning Detroit cannot simply accept the best offer and send him to Montreal.
However, Larkin’s reaction following Saturday’s game suggested the reception made an impression.
The 30-year-old centre acknowledged how unusual it was to be cheered in Montreal and praised the atmosphere at the Bell Centre during his postgame comments.
That reaction doesn’t confirm he’s changed his mind. Still, I believe it matters more than some observers might realize.
Players want to win, but they also want to feel valued. After everything that has happened between Larkin and the Red Wings organization, Montreal showed him exactly what his arrival could mean to an entire fan base.
Why Dylan Larkin Could Be the Missing Piece for the Canadiens
From a hockey perspective, the appeal is obvious.
Montreal already has Nick Suzuki, one of the NHL’s most complete offensive centres, leading its first line. The Canadiens also have Cole Caufield, Juraj Slafkovsky, Ivan Demidov and Lane Hutson forming an increasingly dangerous young core.
The Canadiens finished the 2025-26 regular season with 106 points and advanced to the Eastern Conference Final before losing to Carolina.
That is no longer a rebuilding team hoping to become competitive someday. This is an organization trying to turn an emerging contender into a legitimate Stanley Cup threat.
Adding Larkin would immediately give head coach Martin St. Louis another experienced, high-end centre capable of driving a scoring line.
Imagine Suzuki handling the toughest defensive matchups while Larkin attacks opponents with his speed through the middle of the ice. Montreal could distribute its offensive talent across two dangerous lines rather than relying so heavily on Suzuki’s unit to generate chances.
Larkin also brings versatility, faceoff ability, power-play experience and a willingness to compete in difficult situations.
My biggest argument for acquiring him isn’t that he would replace Suzuki as Montreal’s best centre. It’s that opponents would have a much harder time deciding which Canadiens line to neutralize.
That’s the kind of lineup problem Stanley Cup contenders want to create.
Why the Detroit Red Wings Still Control the Situation
There’s another side to this story, and it’s just as important. Larkin’s request to leave Detroit wasn’t a minor offseason disagreement.
Former general manager Steve Yzerman publicly confirmed the trade request in June. Larkin subsequently lost the Red Wings captaincy, a role he had held for six seasons.
In September, Larkin acknowledged the consequences of requesting a trade but indicated he did not regret the decision.
Detroit has since changed its management structure, with Yzerman moving into a senior adviser role and Shawn Horcoff taking over as interim general manager.
The organization must now determine whether keeping Larkin helps stabilize the team or whether moving him allows Detroit to reshape its future.
Personally, I don’t see the Red Wings rushing this decision simply because Larkin has asked out. He remains under contract through the 2030-31 season. Detroit has the ability to wait for an offer that makes sense.
There is also the uncomfortable reality of trading a productive centre to an Atlantic Division rival. The last thing Detroit wants is to watch Larkin help Montreal win playoff rounds while the assets coming back struggle to make an impact.
Dylan Larkin’s Recent NHL Stats Explain His Trade Value
One reason Larkin remains such an interesting potential trade target is his consistency. Here is his regular-season production over the previous three completed NHL seasons:
Dylan Larkin’s 3-Year Scoring Trend
Larkin recorded 206 points in 224 games over the past three NHL seasons. Chart bars use an 80-point reference scale.
Across those three seasons, Larkin registered 206 points in 224 games, approximately 0.92 points per game.
That’s a strong offensive profile for a player who has regularly carried significant responsibilities for Detroit.
What stands out to me is his goal production. Larkin has reached 30 goals in each of those three seasons, demonstrating that he’s more than a playmaking centre dependent on elite wingers to finish his chances.
There is a reasonable age-related concern, of course. Larkin is 30, and a significant part of his game depends on his skating.
Montreal would be acquiring more than his current production. The Canadiens would also assume the risk of how that contract ages into his mid-30s.
That’s why any serious trade evaluation must consider production, salary, contract length and acquisition cost together.
Can the Montreal Canadiens Afford Dylan Larkin’s $8.7 Million Contract?
This is where the excitement surrounding a potential blockbuster encounters a difficult financial reality. Montreal has approximately $2.47 million in projected 2026-27 salary-cap space. Larkin carries an $8.7 million annual cap hit.
Using those figures, adding his full cap hit without subtracting salary would leave the Canadiens roughly $6.38 million over their projected available room.
General manager Kent Hughes would therefore need to move substantial salary, arrange permissible salary retention, or pursue another cap-compliant structure.
Consider a purely hypothetical scenario involving Kirby Dach and Josh Anderson.
Dach carries a $3.6 million cap hit, while Anderson accounts for $5.5 million. Together, those contracts represent $9.1 million.
On simplified annual cap-hit mathematics, moving both contracts and acquiring Larkin would leave Montreal approximately $2.72 million in projected cap space.
But there’s a serious problem with that exercise.
Why would Detroit want to trade its established top-line centre primarily to accommodate Montreal’s salary structure?
That’s not how I would expect the Red Wings to approach negotiations.
The cap calculation might work for Montreal, but Detroit would need a compelling hockey reason to accept the deal.
Can Montreal Afford Dylan Larkin?
Example: $9.1 million represents the combined annual cap hits of Kirby Dach ($3.6M) and Josh Anderson ($5.5M). This is a hypothetical calculation, not a reported trade proposal.
Positive on simplified annual cap-hit math.
Based on projected cap room of $2,321,879 as of October 13, 2026. This calculator does not account for all NHL roster rules, retained salary, performance bonuses or transaction timing. Source: PuckPedia.
What Would a Dylan Larkin Trade Actually Cost Montreal?
This is the question that makes the entire situation so complicated.
Montreal possesses several attractive young players and prospects. The Canadiens also have future draft capital that could help assemble a significant offer.
But I wouldn’t expect Kent Hughes to sacrifice the foundation of his emerging contender.
Suzuki isn’t going anywhere in a reasonable Larkin discussion. Neither should Caufield, Hutson or Demidov be casually included in trade speculation.
The more realistic starting point would involve a quality young player, significant draft compensation and enough outgoing salary to make the transaction workable.
Owen Beck is one prospect who could logically enter hypothetical discussions because of his position and development potential. Montreal also holds a 2027 first-round selection.
However, there has been no verified report identifying Beck or a Canadiens first-round pick as part of an actual Larkin offer.
Those are potential trade-building pieces, not evidence of negotiations.
My view is that Detroit would prioritize the quality of the best young asset offered rather than simply counting how many pieces Montreal includes.
Three mediocre assets don’t necessarily replace one proven top-six centre.
And while Larkin’s trade protection limits Detroit’s market, it doesn’t automatically make him a bargain.
Dylan Larkin Trade Feasibility Index
The Biggest Obstacle May Not Be Money
Even if Montreal solves the salary-cap problem and presents Detroit with an attractive package, Larkin still has to approve the destination.
That remains the deciding factor.
Friedman has acknowledged the Canadiens’ potential appeal, but there is an important difference between considering a city and officially including that team among approved trade destinations.
Larkin grew up in Michigan and has spent his entire NHL career with Detroit. Choosing another original-six market, particularly one in Canada, would be a major professional and personal decision.
Montreal’s hockey environment can be exhilarating, but it also brings intense expectations and constant media attention.
I suspect Hughes would want a clear understanding of Larkin’s willingness to embrace those expectations before investing significant time in negotiations.
The Canadiens don’t need another player who has to be persuaded to accept the organization.
They need someone genuinely excited about helping the team take the next step.
What Happens Next With the Dylan Larkin Trade Rumors?
For now, there are three developments worth watching.
First is whether Larkin or his representatives provide any indication that Montreal has become an acceptable destination.
Second is whether credible NHL insiders connect Hughes and Detroit’s front office to substantive trade discussions rather than simply identifying a logical hockey fit.
Finally, Montreal’s roster and salary-cap decisions could offer clues about whether management intends to pursue another expensive veteran centre.
None of those developments should be treated as confirmed simply because the rumours are attracting attention.
The original offseason trade request was real. Detroit’s decision to remove the captaincy was real. The reception at the Bell Centre was real.
What remains unverified is whether those circumstances will eventually lead to an agreement between Larkin, Detroit and Montreal.
My Prediction: Is Dylan Larkin Really Going to Montreal?
I wouldn’t call the Canadiens the favourites to land Larkin today.
The obstacles remain substantial, particularly his trade protection and Montreal’s limited cap flexibility. But I also wouldn’t dismiss the possibility entirely.
The Canadiens have built a legitimate contender with a talented young nucleus, and Larkin would address a valuable position without requiring Montreal to move Suzuki away from his natural role.
The potential fit is outstanding. The practical pathway is much less convincing.
For me, the most revealing development isn’t the chanting itself. It’s that Larkin publicly acknowledged Montreal’s atmosphere while Friedman subsequently left open the possibility that the city has at least entered his thinking.
Perhaps nothing changes. Or perhaps Saturday night becomes a small but memorable moment in a much bigger trade story.
Either way, the next meaningful update won’t come from the Bell Centre crowd. It will come when Larkin’s willingness to approve Montreal becomes clearer.
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