The Canadiens Can Afford Dylan Larkin. Should They?

The Dylan Larkin-to-Montreal rumour keeps coming back, and it's easy to understand why. On paper, the fit is almost too obvious. The Canadiens have Nick Suzuki as their No. 1 centre, but adding Larkin would give them a legitimate one-two punch down the middle. Put Ivan Demidov, Cole Caufield and Juraj Slafkovsky around those two, and suddenly Montreal's young offensive core looks a whole lot more dangerous.

Larkin’s contract would be manageable for the Canadiens.

Larkin also isn't carrying some ridiculous contract that would make the idea impossible. He's signed through 2030-31 at an $8.7 million cap hit, a number that could look pretty reasonable as the salary cap continues to climb. But here's the interesting part from the Canadiens' perspective: they don't actually need to make this trade. That's an important consideration.

Montreal has spent years building patiently. The Canadiens have accumulated young talent, protected their best prospects and resisted the temptation to rush the rebuild. Now they're getting to the point where those decisions are starting to pay off.

So Larkin isn't a rescue mission. He's an acceleration button. That's why Kent Hughes has to be careful.

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Larkin would cost the Canadiens a bundle to bring in.

To get Larkin, Montreal would probably have to give up a significant piece of that carefully assembled future. A premium prospect, a first-round pick and another young player could be the starting point of a serious conversation. And once those assets are gone, they're gone.

The Canadiens also can't control the most important part of this whole thing. Larkin has a full no-trade clause, and Montreal isn't currently among the destinations he's reportedly willing to accept. Still, it's hard not to look at the Canadiens' roster and wonder if this is exactly the kind of move they should eventually make.

Could the Canadiens be ready for the bigger jump?

The young core is getting older. Suzuki is already established. Demidov is coming. Caufield and Slafkovsky are no longer just prospects. If Montreal believes this group is ready to take the next step, adding a proven centre like Larkin could be the move that shifts the conversation from building a contender to winning something.

That's the decision Hughes has to make. The Canadiens can afford Dylan Larkin. They have the assets to acquire him. The real question is whether they're ready to spend those assets.

Because acquiring Larkin wouldn't mean the rebuild failed. It would mean Montreal has decided the rebuild is over.

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