Canadiens Fans Likely to Turn on Dylan Larkin After Latest Stunt

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A fanbase that recently chanted “We want Larkin!” might not be feeling the love after the Detroit Red Wings forward essentially shunned them with his latest move. After requesting a trade, none of the three teams on Dylan Larkin‘s list bit. He expanded that list to six teams. Still nothing. Finally, a recent report has him putting 10 teams on his list. Who isn’t on there? The Montreal Canadiens.

Despite expanding his list repeatedly and after the Canadiens fans showed him incredible love when the Red Wings traveled to Montreal for a game a couple of weeks ago, Habs fans might be realizing that love is not reciprocated. They want him, but it doesn’t look like he wants them.

The ten teams on Larkin’s list: the Florida Panthers, Minnesota Wild, Vegas Golden Knights, Dallas Stars, Washington Capitals, Carolina Hurricanes, Utah Mammoth, Tampa Bay Lightning, New Jersey Devils and Colorado Avalanche.

That can’t sit well with fans in Montreal, who, despite his claims that the city is great and the market is passionate about their hockey, aren’t on his list. Frankly, it doesn’t make a lot of sense given the role he’ll play, the Canadiens’ chances of being a contender, and how well that team is set up moving forward. If Larkin just wants to win, Montreal is as good a place as any… maybe better.

Marco D’Amico on The Starr & D’Amico Show commented on the recent development. He can’t imagine the love the Canadiens fans show Larkin will last. He explained:

“Already a third of the league is on your list. At this point in time, either you want to go somewhere, or you don’t. And if you need to be backed into a corner to get there, then fantastic for Kent Hughes. But I don’t know that the fans are necessarily going to be as open to welcoming him, knowing that it took borderline blackmail to get him to add Montreal to his trade list.”

In other words, the Canadiens could get a sweet deal on the player, but why trade for someone who only comes to Montreal as a last-resort option?

Canadiens Want a Player Who Wants to Be There

If Larkin winds up in Montreal, how many fans will think he’s there because he truly wants to be? He’ll have been turned down by more than 10 teams and essentially forced to add the Canadiens to his list. An Original Six franchise, the Canadiens are one of the most storied NHL clubs in history. Players should want to be there.

Even if Larkin said the right thing, the proof is in the pudding. He could have added the Canadiens months ago. He chose not to. Even when things started going sideways, he still didn’t add them.

Habs fans are a proud bunch. There’s only so many times a player can shun them before the turn.

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