Dylan Larkin's trade list just got a little longer, and the Detroit Red Wings captain still hasn't included Montreal.
According to Renaud Lavoie, the Dallas Stars have reportedly joined Larkin's list of preferred destinations, per a BPM Sports report this morning.
The Canadiens are still not on it.
That's a rough morning for Montreal fans who spent the summer connecting dots between Larkin and the Bell Centre.
Larkin put up 67 points last season on 34 goals and 33 assists across 74 games, with 9 game-winning goals mixed in.
He's playing on an 8,700,000 dollar cap hit, and that number is going to shape every conversation Detroit has this month.
Back in June and July, only three teams sat on his list: the Florida Panthers, Vegas Golden Knights and Minnesota Wild. All south of the border.
Front office uncertainty adds a wrinkle to any Detroit trade
Steve Yzerman remains the general manager and Todd McLellan the head coach, but reports have circulated about front-office changes as camp approaches.
That kind of instability tends to freeze trade talks instead of speeding them up. Nobody wants to negotiate a franchise piece without knowing who's picking up the phone next week.
Camp opens in roughly two weeks, and Larkin is still expected to walk into Detroit's room when it does, trade request or not.
Larkin isn't going quietly, either. He rode a hot stretch before the season ended, posting 11 points in his final 10 games and 9 in his last 5.
He's not alone in wanting out. Larkin joins a group that reportedly includes Connor Hellebuyck, Kirill Marchenko and Brady Tkachuk among players requesting trades this summer.
The Red Wings closed last season at 41-31-10, good for 92 points, but stumbled to the finish with a 2-6-2 record over their final 10 games.
So why does Montreal keep getting left off? Nobody's saying, and that silence is starting to feel louder than any denial would.
The Canadiens still have prospects and picks to dangle. None of it matters if Larkin never puts Montreal on paper.
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Should the Canadiens keep chasing Dylan Larkin even though he still won't put them on his list?
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