Dylan Larkin, Kent Hughes and the Canadiens are back in the trade conversation, and Frank Seravalli just connected the dots.
Montreal already put a five-piece package on the table for Kirill Marchenko, and Seravalli thinks the Habs might be willing to go even bigger to land Larkin.
"Knowing how Larkin would solve their problems... they might be more amendable to making this sweeter to make it work," Seravalli said on Frankly Hockey.
He went further, saying he believes Montreal would aggressively pursue a deal.
So why hasn't it happened? Reports have repeatedly said he didn't want to play in Canada, and that's the wall every Montreal offer keeps running into.
Larkin, 30, carries an $8,700,000 cap hit and has two points in three games since returning. He was at the Bell Centre on Saturday for a 1-0 shootout loss.
Kent Hughes keeps chasing the centre Montreal has been missing
Hughes has already watched his big targets go elsewhere. Marchenko ended up a Maple Leaf, and Matthew Knies went to Columbus.
Elliotte Friedman said Larkin "would be God" in Montreal, pairing with Nick Suzuki as a one-two punch down the middle.
BPM Sports even urged fans to chant for him on Saturday, hoping the Bell Centre could change his mind.
Sweetening the offer is fine, but Hughes shouldn't overpay for a player who has to be convinced to come. A huge package for someone who doesn't want to be there is a risk Montreal can't afford.
It's like doubling your offer on a house the owner doesn't want to sell you. The money helps, but it doesn't change who wants to live there.
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The Canadiens are 2-2-1 and host Buffalo on Tuesday.
Seravalli says Montreal would chase this aggressively. The real question is whether Larkin is ready to say yes.
Should the Canadiens overpay to trade for Dylan Larkin?
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