Everything about the Dylan Larkin situation in Detroit has been strange, and that was no different on Saturday night when the Red Wings were at the Bell Centre to battle the rival Montreal Canadiens.
Montreal has long been seen as a potentially perfect fit for Larkin, but his unwillingness to expand his list to include the Canadiens, at least so far, has stood in the way of them making it happen.
As a result, Montreal fans tried taking matters into their own hands on Saturday night, chanting “We Want Larkin” during the opening shift of the game. While it may seem silly to think that’s going to change the star center’s mind, he was quite complimentary of them when asked about it postgame.
“It was interesting. I never would’ve imagined that in this building in my career. But they’re passionate fans. In my opinion, it’s the best atmosphere in hockey, and they’re knowledgeable, and they love their team, and that’s how I read into it. And after a few seconds, it was just back to focusing on the game,”
The 30-year-old Larkin just began Year 4 of the eight-year, $69.6 million contract extension he signed to stay in Detroit back in 2023. He’s tallied two points (one goal, one assist) through three games to start the new season.
Kent Hughes and the Canadiens have long been searching for an upgrade at second-line center behind Nick Suzuki, which is why the Larkin fit has drawn so much attention in Montreal.
The Michigan native may prefer to stay south of the border, but if what he truly wants is simply to move on and get a fresh start, there are far worse options than joining a potential Stanley Cup contender on the rise with one of, if not the best, fan bases in the NHL behind them.
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