Dylan Larkin is suddenly tied to Montreal, and Martin St-Louis could be watching Kent Hughes line up his biggest swing yet.
The Canadiens reportedly have a major trade framework available as they pursue another high-end forward, with Larkin now emerging as a target after Montreal missed on Kirill Marchenko.
The package previously discussed for Marchenko reportedly included 2 NHL forwards, 1 NHL defenseman, a first-round pick and another conditional selection capable of becoming a first-rounder.
"Now, the fascinating part is that this same trade framework appears to be getting recycled and redirected toward the Detroit Red Wings in pursuit of star center Dylan Larkin. One NHL executive was reportedly blunt about the situation, stating that Montreal is the only legitimate Cup contender with the assets necessary to meet Detroit's asking price. Looking at the pieces that were likely in the original Columbus offer, names like Kirby Dach, Oliver Kapanen, Zachary Bolduc, and Alexandre Texier were likely among the forwards on the table, while the defensive piece could have been Jayden Struble, Arber Xhekaj, Adam Engstrom, or possibly even Kaiden Guhle."
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Hughes still drew a clear line during those talks. Juraj Slafkovsky, Ivan Demidov and Cole Caufield weren't being offered as part of the Canadiens' push for a major addition.
That stance matters with Larkin because Montreal could now redirect a similar package toward Detroit without stripping away the young core already occupying major roles in the Canadiens' top six.
Several Montreal roster players could theoretically fit that framework, including Kirby Dach, Oliver Kapanen, Zachary Bolduc, Alexandre Texier, Jayden Struble, Arber Xhekaj, Adam Engstrom or Kaiden Guhle.
Michael Hage has also surfaced around the Larkin discussion, adding another high-end young asset Montreal could use if negotiations move beyond the exploratory stage.
Dylan Larkin still controls the next move
The biggest obstacle isn't necessarily Montreal's offer. Larkin reportedly hasn't included the Canadiens among his approved trade destinations, and none of the Canadian clubs currently appear on his list.
That gives Larkin significant control over where this story goes. Detroit can discuss packages, and Montreal can keep assets ready, but the center would need to open the door before anything serious develops.
The situation around Larkin in Detroit has also become more uncomfortable. He was booed during player introductions at the Red Wings' home opener, with the reaction continuing when he took his first shift.
His list of approved destinations has reportedly expanded in recent weeks, creating at least some reason for the Canadiens to keep pushing rather than move immediately to another target.
For Montreal, the attraction is obvious. Larkin would give the Canadiens another established center behind Nick Suzuki and create far more flexibility throughout St-Louis' top six.
And Hughes appears positioned to move quickly if Montreal becomes an option. The assets are there, the need is clear, and Larkin's trade protection could now determine whether this turns into something much bigger.
Should the Canadiens make an aggressive push for Dylan Larkin?
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