What Happened
Sportsnet reports that the asking price for Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin is currently prohibitive, according to league sources. Red Wings assistant general manager Kris Draper has been scouting the Montreal Canadiens in person, attending games in Toronto, Montreal, Chicago and St. Louis. Larkin has not officially listed Montreal as a team he would waive his no-movement clause for, and the Canadiens are not believed to be willing to meet the current price.
Key Details
- Larkin's cap hit is $8.7M through 2031, which one executive said adds a premium.
- Draper attended Canadiens-Leafs Game 1, Canadiens-Sharks on Oct. 20, Canadiens-Blackhawks last Friday and Canadiens-Blues Tuesday.
- Larkin, 30, has not officially listed Montreal as a team he would waive his no-movement clause for.
- An Eastern Conference executive said the price is not about to come down while Detroit keeps winning.
What It Means
Detroit's repeated scouting of Montreal suggests the club is doing due diligence on a potential Larkin trade, per Sportsnet. However, the combination of a high asking price and Larkin's no-movement clause means a deal is not close. Montreal has the assets to make a competitive offer, but the report indicates the Canadiens are unwilling to pay the current price.
What's Next
It is unclear whether Larkin would waive his no-movement clause for Montreal, and Detroit's asking price is not expected to fall while the team continues winning, according to Sportsnet.