Dylan Larkin has a trade list, and Montreal isn't on it, even with a hole at second-line center staring the Canadiens right in the face.
Per Helene St. James, Larkin's approved destinations sit at four teams: the Florida Panthers, Minnesota Wild, Vegas Golden Knights, and now the Dallas Stars.
Detroit's captain carries an $8,700,000 cap hit, and Montreal has roughly $9,700,000 in space sitting there waiting to be used.
Larkin posted 67 points in 74 games this season, his fifth straight year landing between 67 and 79 points.
Slotting him behind Nick Suzuki would give Montreal a one-two punch down the middle that few teams in the league can match.
Suzuki himself put up 101 points in 82 games this year, adding 72 assists and a plus-37 rating.
Detroit finished 41-31-10 this season under head coach Todd McLellan, sitting 16th overall and limping out on a three-game losing streak.
Why Larkin keeps saying no to the one team that makes sense
Every approved team on Larkin's list is American. That's not a coincidence, according to Montreal Hockey Now's Marc Dumont.
"Unfortunately, given the teams he listed, it doesn't seem like Montreal would be a good fit from Larkin's perspective," Dumont said.
There's also bad blood built into the geography. Detroit and Montreal are set to fight over the same playoff spots for years, giving the Red Wings their own reason to avoid that specific deal.
Dumont also floated a wrinkle that could sink any Montreal offer regardless of Larkin's wishes.
The Canadiens reportedly won't move top prospect Michael Hage in any package, leaning instead on KHL winger Alexander Zharovsky as a centerpiece. That might not be enough for Detroit's front office.
Steve Yzerman remains Detroit's GM, but the head coaching chair isn't the issue here. It's the vacant permanent GM seat that has this entire situation stuck in neutral.
Multiple insiders, including LeBrun, believe Larkin could still widen his list as the process drags into the fall.
Montreal checks every box on paper. Whether that ever matters to Larkin himself is a different question entirely, and right now the answer looks like no.
Should Dylan Larkin add the Canadiens to his approved trade list?
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