Canadiens fans chant ‘We Want Larkin’ against Red Wings

Montreal Canadiens fans have made it clear: They want Dylan Larkin. 

On Saturday night, the crowd at the Canadiens’ Bell Centre showed their support for the maligned Detroit Red Wings center, chanting “We Want Larkin” repeatedly early in the game. 

Larkin was among the last Red Wings players to leave the ice after warmups, to a chorus of cheers from the Montreal fans. Once the puck dropped on the first period, the chants grew louder, as if to woo the 30-year-old to the Canadiens in a trade. 

Entangled in a falling out with the Red Wings and being stripped of his captaincy following a trade request out of the market, Larkin missed the start of the season with the only NHL team he has known. He has since played three games, including Saturday’s against Montreal, while trade rumors swirl around his future. 

With a contract running through 2030-31 and an average annual value of $8.7 million, he likely has suitors. 

Yet, he has a full no-movement clause, meaning he must approve any deal the Red Wings can find. While the Canadiens could be in the market to iron out a deal, it remains unclear whether Larkin would be enticed by the Québec metropolis, especially at a time when so many American stars are choosing to play south of the Canada-USA border. 

A gold medalist with the USA at the 2026 Olympics, Larkin is the latest player from that roster to hit complications in his NHL status, doing so at the same time as Winnipeg Jets netminder Connor Hellebuyck, who requested a trade and has refused to join the team he is contracted to, despite a deal in place.

Larkin has 277 goals and 368 assists for 645 points in 810 NHL regular season games since joining the league as the 15th overall pick in the 2014 NHL Draft.