Dylan Larkin and the Canadiens: If he still needs convincing, he’s not the one

Charles-Alexis Brisebois
Dylan Larkin and the Canadiens: If he still needs convincing, he’s not the one
Credit: Capture d'écran/Twitter

Dylan Larkin's case is truly fascinating.

The more time passes, the more we realize that the Red Wings' inaction on this issue is (unsurprisingly) causing problems. With each passing month, the situation seems to become more and more problematic.

Yesterday, on the sidelines of the Red Wings' home opener, the fans' reaction spoke volumes.

We can all agree that going from captain to hated player can't be good for his morale, especially since he likely didn't expect to still be in Detroit at the start of October.

But the saga has reached the point where the former captain is now being compared to Osama bin Laden.

Increasingly, we're seeing posts from fans and media representatives pointing out that the player isn't being traded because he only wants to be traded to a select few teams.

The Canadiens and every other team in the country aren't on his list. That's his most fundamental right.

But my question is this: if Larkin would rather stay in Detroit—where he's treated like trash by the fans—than come to Montreal, is he the right choice for the Canadiens' second-line center position?

For me, asking the question is also answering it. And that's true even though he'd be an ideal solution on paper.

Note: I'm not saying that any player who has the Habs on his no-trade list shouldn't come to Montreal. After all, a guy has the right to change his mind, of course.

However, if yesterday's events (and everything that's happened in recent weeks) don't prompt Larkin to change his list in Montreal's favor over the next few days or weeks, we'll have to move on here.

I'm repeating myself, but that's his right. He can do whatever he wants, and his reasons don't have to make sense to Habs fans—to whom he owes absolutely nothing.

But if Kent Hughes is serious about his club's culture (which, by the way, I don't doubt for a second), there will be a point of no return in this matter. And I wonder if what happened yesterday marks a new level in this situation.

Any self-respecting hockey club should want to field players who are willing to give it their all for the logo. If Larkin doesn't want to be part of that, too bad for him.

He'll miss out on something, and he'll have only himself to blame.


In a nutshell

– Phew.

– Sad news.

– Interesting.

– Today's waivers pick.

– Great read on Michael Misa.

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