Story by
Larkin Trade Talk: Pros And Cons Of Potential Deal
- Story by
- Larkin Trade Talk: Pros And Cons Of Potential Deal
IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The Montreal Canadiens know they need to add more talent to the mix if they're to become legitimate Stanley Cup contenders, which means they're likely going to evaluate every player available on the trade market, including Detroit Red Wings forward Dylan Larkin .
After all, general manager Kent Hughes is among the busiest executives in the league, performing due diligence whenever necessary. This doesn't necessarily mean the Canadiens are interested Larkin, or that he'd accept a trade to the Habs, but there's no harm in weighing his potential impact in Montreal.
Advertisement
Dylan Larkin Trade Situation
Larkin has served as Detroit's captain since 2020, having been drafted by the Red Wings 15th overall in 2014. Things started off fairly well, as they managed to qualify for the playoffs in 2015, but that would be the last taste of playoff action Larkin would get while playing for the Red Wings.
Consequently, he has demanded a trade.
It's important to note that while there are probably several other reasons why Larkin wants a change in address, the most crucial factor when trying to attract high-talent athletes will always be winning.
Taxes, schools, travel, and everything else comes well behind an athlete's eternal thirst for victory.
Advertisement
Build a winner, and they will come.
The situation is made more complicated by the fact that the Red Wings gave Larkin a no-trade clause.
According to Helene St. James at the Detroit Free Press , Larkin has named three teams which would be acceptable as potential trade partners: The Vegas Golden Knights , the Minnesota Wild , and the Florida Panthers .
However, she also suggests he'll need to expand his list if a deal cannot come to fruition with the aforementioned teams.
With that in mind, let's take a look at how Larkin has played in recent seasons to evaluate his potential value to the Habs.
Advertisement
Dylan Larkin Statistics
The 29-year-old centre is yet to produce more than 80 points in a season, which may seem to make his $8.7 million cap hit rather expensive, but there's more to Larkin's game than offensive production.
He's essentially maintained fantastic underlying numbers throughout his entire career, especially when we filter the results to be relative to his teammates.
It should also be noted that he's a very busy player. The Red Wings use him in almost every situation, similar to how the Habs utilize captain Nick Suzuki .
Simply put, he's the busiest centre on both the powerplay and the penalty kill.
Montreal Canadiens Brass Tacks
Seeing as the Canadiens are desperately seeking a second-line centre, logic dictates that Larkin would be a good, reasonable addition to a young team that needs to bolster its strength down the middle of the ice.
Advertisement
There are still five years left on his contract, which carries an $8.7 million AAV, a price tag that could be easily absorbed should the Habs be able to convince both Detroit and Larkin to accept a deal.
Given his recent downtick in goals, we shouldn't expect him to improve his production any time soon, but it does not seem at risk of collapsing in the near future, giving the Canadiens enough runway to work with in the next few seasons.
Unfortunately, given the teams he listed, it doesn't seem like Montreal would be a good fit from Larkin's perspective, but they are a young, talented team that could use him in a crucial role, while offering him something the Red Wings cannot: playoff hockey.
The trade would likely cost them one of their top prospects, though they're dead set on keeping Michael Hage, making a talented youngster such as Alexandre Zharovsky a more suitable trade piece, among other assets.
Advertisement
There's also Montreal's first-round pick in 2026, which will surely be added to any potential trade in a bid to improve their current roster, by using an asset that won't bear any fruit by the time the team is ready to compete.
Dylan Larkin statistics via Natural Stat Trick .
Related Headlines
