The Detroit Red Wings have been scouting the Montreal Canadiens in case Dylan Larkin adds them to his list of approved trade destinations, The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun reported in his Friday NHL Rumblings column. The report is unconfirmed. The Red Wings have not announced a Larkin trade, and Montreal is not one of the 10 teams on Larkin’s current list.

According to LeBrun’s report, the Canadiens would fully engage on Larkin if he opened the door, and Detroit would welcome Montreal joining the bidding because of the assets it could offer. LeBrun also wrote that Larkin’s agents, Pat Brisson and Matt Williams, want the process to move faster. Larkin’s no-trade clause runs through 2027-28, and he carries an $8.7 million cap hit through 2030-31.

Larkin’s list was reported earlier this week to have grown to 10 teams, with no Canadian clubs on it. Larkin spoke warmly about the crowd in Montreal after a recent game at the Bell Centre, where fans have chanted for him.

Dylan Larkin on hearing "We want Larkin" chants at Bell Centre: "I never would have imagined that in this building and in my career. They're passionate fans. It's one of the best atmospheres in hockey. They're knowledgeable and they love their team. That's how I read into it."

— Helene St. James (@HeleneStJames) October 11, 2026

Not a closed door

Chris Johnston added to the Montreal talk on The Chris Johnston Show, saying he is hearing some optimism around a possible fit. He cautioned that Larkin isn’t about to waive for the Canadiens right away, but said of a Montreal move, “I don’t think it’s a hard no.”

Montreal’s need at center has grown, too. Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki is out with an upper-body injury that could sideline him for up to a month, ClutchPoints noted in its summary of LeBrun’s column.

The report lands as Detroit weighs offers for both Larkin and unsigned defenseman Simon Edvinsson. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman said this week that the Red Wings have been asking teams about young centers after being underwhelmed by the offers so far, and talks with Minnesota had stalled over the value of Danila Yurov.

The Red Wings, riding a six-game point streak, play Saturday night in Calgary and Monday in Edmonton to finish their four-game road trip.

Sources

• Pierre LeBrun, The Athletic, NHL Rumblings (Oct. 23, 2026), as summarized by ClutchPoints
• ClutchPoints: NHL rumors: Wings ‘actively scouting’ Canadiens amid Dylan Larkin interest (Oct. 24, 2026)
• The Hockey Writers: NHL Rumours: Hellebuyck Trade Aftermath, Larkin Might Waive for Habs & Penguins Sell-Off (Oct. 24, 2026)
• PuckPedia: Dylan Larkin
• Helene St. James, Detroit Free Press (@HeleneStJames) on X

Correction (October 26, 2026): This story originally referred to Dylan Larkin as the Red Wings’ captain. Detroit began the 2026-27 season without a captain. It has been corrected.