Humiliated by his own fans: Dylan Larkin has no choice but to expand his list of teams

The massive Dylan Larkin saga, which has been going on all summer, took a whole new turn last night when the former captain of the Detroit Red Wings was heavily booed and humiliated by his own fans.

Larkin wasn't in uniform for the Red Wings' season opener, and when he was introduced to the fans, they expressed their displeasure over #71's trade request with boos and customized jerseys mocking Larkin.

In short, the 30-year-old forward is clearly no longer welcome on this team, and the situation needs to be resolved as soon as possible.

It's not only unbearable for Larkin, but it's also a huge distraction for the players and everyone involved with the team, from management to the fans.

Yesterday's incident is clearly likely to set things in motion, as this toxic atmosphere is unsustainable.

Larkin absolutely must leave Detroit as soon as possible, and to do so, the 30-year-old veteran will have no choice but to expand his list of teams to which he would agree to be traded.

It seems like Dylan Larkin is going to add a couple of teams to his list…

— Daniel Richard (@DanRichard_RDS) October 3, 2026

When he first requested a trade in June, Larkin had named three teams on his trade list: the Florida Panthers, the Vegas Golden Knights, and the Minnesota Wild.

Finally, after nearly four months without a trade, Larkin recently decided to expand his list, as Elliotte Friedman reported that Larkin's list now includes about eight teams.

Friedman mentioned the Colorado Avalanche, the Tampa Bay Lightning, the Washington Capitals, and the Dallas Stars.

There is clearly a pattern in the teams Larkin has chosen, as they are all American teams contending for major honors.

They are all strong teams in U.S. markets.

However, so far, no trade has been completed, and given last night's developments, Larkin may feel pressure to break away from this U.S.-centric pattern.

And if that's the case, the Montreal Canadiens—who would almost certainly be interested in the 30-year-old center—could be added to Larkin's list.

The Habs aren't a U.S. team, but they're still one of the best young contending teams in the NHL—and they have a pressing need for a second-line center.

Larkin is obviously better than just a second-line center, which would significantly improve the Habs.

Even though Larkin currently has a very poor reputation in the NHL due to his lack of respect toward the Red Wings, he remains a highly talented player who consistently scores around 30 goals and 70 points per season.

With five years remaining on his contract, worth $8.7 million annually, Larkin would be a massive addition for the Canadiens.

In short, if Larkin ever gets fed up with his toxic situation in Detroit, Kent Hughes will certainly be keeping a close eye on his phone.

In a Nutshell

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