After “We want Larkin” chants were heard at the Bell Centre on Saturday during Montreal’s game against Detroit, the disgruntled Red Wings centre at least has a new team to ponder.
While Larkin is believed to want to stay in the U.S., the Canadiens could make sense for the Michigan native.
“I think he’s at least considered it, but I don’t know that it’s likely,” Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman said on 32 Thoughts: The Podcast on Monday. “I just feel until it’s an absolute no, I would never say never.”
Larkin, who has one goal and one assist in three games this season, requested a trade this summer. He has returned to the ice with the Red Wings, but is no longer the captain.
“There still is a feeling that some of those players felt they weren’t treated very well post-Olympics in Canada,” Friedman said. “Even though it’s different now in Montreal now and (American) players like (Cole) Caufield and (Lane) Hutson have extended there and emotions are riding positively there, I think players always wonder what happens if it changes.”
The Jets, of course, do not have to deal a player who is under contract. The Jets suspended the star goaltender for not reporting to camp.
“There’s started to become a lot of talk about Hellebuyck potentially coming back,” Friedman said. “I don’t think anybody involved here wants that. I don’t think Hellebuyck wants that, I don’t think the Jets want that, I don’t think the Jets players want that, I don’t think the Jets fans want that. Nobody wants that.
“I just think if this thing drags on, he may have no choice.”
At camp, Jets forward Kyle Connor was asked about the possibility of Hellebuyck rejoining the team.
“Come back as in to come back and just play or come back and recommit to this organization? I think that’s the biggest question. If he just comes back, that’s gonna be a pretty tough situation to walk into, to be honest,” he said.
The Calgary Flames are in a bit of a tough spot with Connor Zary after the centre was placed on waivers.
Zary, 25, is in the second year of a three-year deal worth $11.325 million. Since being waived, he has scored one goal in two games with the AHL Calgary Wranglers.
“Vancouver is the one I have heard definitively (being interested in a trade), but I still think there are a couple other teams who have looked at it and are kicking around,” Friedman said.
“It looks like they’re going have to take a contract back to make it work or attach a sweetener and obviously Calgary doesn’t want to do that to any great degree. I think they’re really trying to be patient.”
The Canadiens traded the 25-year-old defenceman to the Nashville Predators last week for a second-round pick.
Struble was battling for ice time in Montreal and was made a healthy scratch for one game last week.
Canadiens GM Kent Hughes was Struble’s former player agent.
“I think Hughes was like, ‘There has to be a real path for him,’ and I think there will be in Nashville,” Friedman said.
New Predators GM Chris MacFarland seems to like Struble’s game.
“Someone sent me a note to say Chris MacFarland has liked Struble for some time going back to when Chris was still working in Colorado and they weren’t surprised he would go out and get him,” Friedman said.