Elliotte Friedman says Dylan Larkin's weekend in Montreal “slightly changed the equation” on a trade to the Canadiens.
“The Larkin thing, I do think what happened in Montreal last weekend slightly changed the equation,” Friedman said. “I just don't know if it's enough. It didn't hurt.”
Friedman made the comments on his 32 Thoughts podcast, where he has discussed Larkin's situation several times this fall.
That's a meaningful shift. Larkin had reportedly been reluctant to play in Canada, and Montreal fans were openly hoping to get the Habs taken off his no-trade list.
''Well, at this point in time, there's not a list that says he'll go to Montreal. But with a couple more days to kind of think about it and ask around about it, I think he was really pleasantly surprised by the reaction to him.'' Friedman said.
Last Saturday's visit gave the Bell Centre its chance to make a pitch. Detroit lost 1-0 in a shootout, and the night clearly left an impression.
Kent Hughes has been chasing a centre for a while. Montreal offered a five-piece package for Kirill Marchenko, and Frank Seravalli believes the Habs would sweeten a deal for Larkin.
The fit is obvious. He would slide in as a second-line centre behind Nick Suzuki, who has nine points in seven games.
Kent Hughes' Canadiens see an opening for Dylan Larkin
Friedman has already said he “would be God there,” with Lane Hutson and Cole Caufield thriving on a team on the way up.
Montreal's passion could be exactly what Larkin needs after a summer of trade requests, a lost captaincy and boos in Detroit. A fresh start in a hockey-mad market might relaunch his career.
He carries an $8,700,000 cap hit through 2030-31. The Canadiens would have to send real value back, and Detroit still wants NHL-ready talent.
Montreal should push now while the door is cracked open. A Friedman “it didn't hurt” is more encouragement than Hughes has had all fall, and windows like this close fast.
It's like a first date that went better than expected. Nobody's moving in yet, but a second date suddenly sounds possible.
The Canadiens are 3-3-1 and host Buffalo on Saturday, while Detroit hosts San Jose the same night.
Friedman doesn't know if it's enough. In Montreal, though, “slightly changed” is the most hopeful phrase anyone has heard about Larkin in months.
Will Dylan Larkin end up with the Canadiens?
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