The Montreal Canadiens are entering the 2026 offseason with much higher expectations than in recent years. Their rebuild is largely complete after a 106-point season and a run to the Eastern Conference Final, where they were eliminated by the Carolina Hurricanes in five games.
General manager Kent Hughes has made it clear that he wants to improve the team but won’t sacrifice the future for a short-term solution. Even so, Montreal has been exploring ways to add top-end talent, and one NHL insider reports that the Canadiens showed interest in a $69.6 million All-Star center earlier this year at the trade deadline.
Canadiens Kick Tires on $69.6M NHL Star
That player is Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin. While the idea of adding Larkin to Montreal’s top-six forward group is certainly intriguing, there’s one major obstacle standing in the way.
Larkin has reportedly submitted a three-team trade list to Detroit Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman, and the Canadiens are not among his preferred destinations. Thanks to his full no-movement clause, Larkin controls where he can be traded, with reports indicating his focus is on three American contenders: the Florida Panthers, Minnesota Wild, and Vegas Golden Knights.
After spending a decade in Detroit without a playoff appearance, Larkin’s motivation appears clear: he wants a legitimate chance to compete deep into the postseason.
NHL insider James Murphy revealed that Montreal had previously shown interest in the Red Wings captain. “I reported last Friday that the Montreal Canadiens had expressed NHL trade interest in Dylan Larkin prior to the 2026 NHL Trade Deadline. Had they been on Larkin’s NHL trade list, they would’ve rekindled those NHL trade conversations,” Murphy reported.
Murphy added that Montreal should instead target New Jersey Devils captain Nico Hischier if Larkin becomes unavailable.
Why Larkin Made Sense for Montreal
If Hughes could somehow convince Larkin to consider Montreal, he would check nearly every box the Canadiens are looking for in a second-line center.
Larkin’s elite skating, two-way reliability, and ability to drive play would provide an ideal environment for Demidov to focus on his offensive strengths. A one-two punch of Nick Suzuki and Dylan Larkin down the middle would instantly give Montreal one of the deepest and most balanced center groups in the Eastern Conference.
With a cap hit of $8.7 million on his $69.6 million contract through the next five seasons, Larkin’s contract offers cost certainty for a proven point-per-game caliber center.
But even if Montreal had made Larkin’s preferred destination list, completing a deal would’ve been extremely difficult.
Trading the face of the franchise to an Atlantic Division rival would require a substantial return. Yzerman likely would’ve demanded a package centered around top prospect Michael Hage, a promising young defenseman, and premium draft assets.
The Canadiens have the prospect pool and draft capital to make a competitive offer, but none of that matters unless Larkin is willing to expand his list of acceptable destinations.
For now, Montreal’s search for an impact second-line center appears likely to move in another direction.
