The latest on Red Wings center Dylan Larkin, Maple Leafs winger Matthews Knies, and more in the Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup.
WHAT WOULD IT COST THE CANADIENS OR FLYERS TO LAND DYLAN LARKIN?
THE MONTREAL GAZETTE: Stu Cowan believes Dylan Larkin would “definitely” be a good fit for the Canadiens’ second-line center position.
The 29-year-old Detroit Red Wings captain’s trade request made headlines last week. He’s scored at least 30 goals in each of the last five seasons. He has five more seasons left on his contract with an average annual value of $8.7 million.
Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin (NHL Images).
Cowan believes the Red Wings’ asking price would start with the Canadiens’ top prospect, center Michael Hage. He thinks the Habs have reached the stage in their rebuild where moving Hage is no longer considered unthinkable, adding that they need a second-line center to skate alongside rising star Ivan Demidov.
PHILLY HOCKEY NOW: William James noted that Larkin would be a good fit for the Flyers, who need an experienced top-six center.
James believes the return to the Red Wings would depend on what direction general manager Steve Yzerman wants to take the team. If he’s targeting players that can help him now, the Flyers have defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen and winger Owen Tippett, who’ve been the subject of trade speculation.
If the Red Wings seek a center as part of the return, the Flyers would have to part with Noah Cates. They aren’t moving Trevor Zegras, and they recently re-signed Christian Dvorak, who has a no-trade clause that begins on July 1. Team captain Sean Couturier has a full no-movement clause.
James felt the Flyers would prefer to offer up a package of prospects and NHL players. It could also include a first-round pick. The price would be high, but it would be worth it to land a first-line center such as Larkin.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canadiens and Flyers have the assets to make competitive bids to the Wings for Larkin. However, it ultimately depends on whether they’re on his list of preferred trade destinations.
WILL THE CANADIENS REVISIT THEIR ATTEMPT TO ACQUIRE MATTHEW KNIES?
SPORTSNET: On Friday, Elliotte Friedman confirmed a recent report by Dave Pagnotta of The Fourth Period claiming the Montreal Canadiens and Toronto Maple Leafs had an agreement in place that would’ve sent winger Matthew Knies to Montreal at the March trade deadline
The deal would’ve seen the Canadiens send prospect winger Alexander Zharovsky, another prospect, and two first-round draft picks to the Maple Leafs for Knies. However, the deal fell through because the trade was filed one minute past the 3 pm ET deadline on March 6.
Friedman believes the Canadiens might want to revisit that deal, but it’s off the table and won’t happen now.
NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: James Nichols believes the Devils could crush the Canadiens’ offer for Knies if he’s still available.
He suggested the Devils could offer up young right-shot defenseman Simon Nemec, center Dawson Mercer, or veteran blueliner Dougie Hamilton as the centerpiece, along with a prospect and two first-rounders.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Maple Leafs dodged a bullet here. That return from the Canadiens might have helped the Leafs in two or three years, but it wouldn’t have helped them now. That would’ve likely led to the departure of Auston Matthews this summer via trade, which would’ve scuttled any chance of the Leafs having a bounce-back season in 2026-27.
It would’ve immediately improved the Canadiens’ forward lines, giving them a young power forward with an affordable contract to skate on the second line with Ivan Demidov. As for that mysterious “other prospect” that was supposed to be in the deal, Pagnotta claimed it wasn’t Michael Hage or defenseman David Reinbacher.
Before this report came out, Canadiens GM Kent Hughes hinted that he might revisit his attempt at what was then a “mystery trade”. However, as Friedman pointed out, that no longer seems possible with the Maple Leafs under new management.
This could turn into a blessing in disguise for the Canadiens. The assets offered for Knies could instead be put toward addressing their need for a second-line center, which is now a bigger priority than adding a physical scoring winger, even one as promising as Knies.
As for the Devils, it’s doubtful they’ll be able to pry Knies away from the Leafs. John Chayka, their new GM, thinks highly of the young winger, and likely sees him as a key player in his plans for the roster.
FIVE POTENTIAL “CHANGE OF SCENERY” TRADE CANDIDATES
DAILY FACEOFF: Matt Larkin recently listed five players that he believes would benefit from a trade this summer.
They include (in alphabetical order) forward Kent Johnson of the Columbus Blue Jackets, winger Jordan Kyrou of the St. Louis Blues, center Mason McTavish of the Anaheim Ducks, defenseman Simon Nemec of the New Jersey Devils, and center Shane Wright of the Seattle Kraken.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: All five have surfaced in the rumor mill, some more than others. Kyrou’s been a fixture for two years. McTavish first appeared last summer as his contract talks dragged into training camp. Nemec and Wright first appeared around midseason, while Johnson recently began to pop up in media trade chatter.
Kyrou is the more established of this group, with three seasons of at least 30 goals and four exceeding 70 points. He also has the more difficult contract, with an AAV of $8.125 million through 2030-31 and a full no-trade clause. The 28-year-old right winger was linked to the Canadiens last summer before his NTC kicked in on July 1.
McTavish could be targeted by teams seeking second-line depth at center. It’s believed Nemec could be moved if he proves too expensive for the Devils to re-sign, although his lack of arbitration rights gives him little leverage.
Wright seemed on the verge of a breakout performance last season, but his playing time was cut this season under head coach Lane Lambert. Johnson’s production dropped in part due to losing almost 12 pounds in the offseason, which affected his consistency and led to a reduced role with the Blue Jackets.
Of this group, McTavish and Nemec seem the most likely to move given their age, positions, and potential.