Dylan Larkin in Montreal: It’s time to move on

I understand that fans are feeling a bit desperate seeing Oliver Kapanen and Alex Newhook occupying the first- and second-line center positions, but desperation has rarely been good advice in professional sports.

Dylan Larkin had his “C” stripped in Detroit and also lost his seat on the team's leadership committee. Is he really the kind of veteran we should be dreaming of in Montreal? Is he really the perfect leader to mentor our young players?

Furthermore, Larkin has played in just five playoff games since the start of his NHL career; he's recorded only one point, with a plus-minus rating of -2.

On paper, Larkin remains a top-tier center, but is his resume impressive enough to justify the sacrifices his acquisition would require?

He's getting older (he'll turn 31 next summer), he's never finished a season with a point per game, he's never surpassed the 80-point mark in a single season, he's finished eight of his 11 seasons in the minuses, he's not as fast as he used to be, he isn't particularly physical, and he hasn't had a strong start to the season.

He's recorded just six points in 10 games, three of which came on the power play. If he were to join the Habs, I don't even know if he'd play on the first power-play unit.

No, Dylan Larkin isn't a bad hockey player, but there are several red flags surrounding his candidacy. Would he really be worth $11 million a season?

I'm afraid that if Larkin ends up adding the Canadiens to his list of teams—whether out of pity or desperation—his move to Montreal could turn into a disaster. And unlike Chris Kreider, Larkin would be under contract for nearly five years at a hefty salary.

I've watched Dylan Larkin play against the Habs a lot when the Red Wings came to the Bell Centre, and I don't think it's a good idea to give up three or four quality assets for his services. Especially if Michael Hage's name is among those assets…

If Hage is part of the price to pay, the question becomes even more pertinent: Is this really the right time to sacrifice part of the future for a player already in his thirties who would cost more than $10 million per season for a few years?

Let another team—a division rival, if possible—shell out the money for him.

“Be careful what you wish for,” as the English say.