Report: Bruins May Pursue Larkin Trade If He’s On the Market

Boston Hockey Now reports that the Boston Bruins may be focused on securing a deal for Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin now that Bo Horvat has been traded.

The Bruins, holding the NHL’s best record, were among the teams that pursued Horvat until he was traded to the New York Islanders. They won the bid on Horvat primarily because the Canucks liked their prospect offer (Aatu Raty) better. Additionally, their first-round pick is likely to be closer to the mid-round. Other contenders for Horvat will have first-round picks near the end of the round.

There is no evidence the Red Wings are considering trading Larkin. However, the rival general managers see this possibility as Larkin still does not have a new contract. He can be an unrestricted free agent this summer.

“(Larkin) would blend perfectly with (Patrice) Bergeron and (Brad) Marchand at the moment. He’s only 26 and he still has a lot of game left,” an NHL source told BHN. “I think he’s also a Don Sweeney type player. The two questions are obviously: will he give up his no-trade and give them a chance to extend?”

Bergeron’s replacement?

Although Larkin and the Red Wings are separated on the amount of the contract, it still seems hard to believe that the Red Wings will not re-sign him. He’s not a superstar. But he’s the Red Wings’ offensive catalyst and team leader. He is also a Michigan player and a popular player. At 26, he is still young enough to be part of the reconstruction.

His agent, Pat Brisson, told Detroit Hockey Now he was “not at all alarmed” that the negotiations dragged into the season. He said talks with Yzerman were still ongoing. Brisson said he and Larkin would have talked about the situation when Larkin plays the All-Star Game in Sunrise, Florida this weekend.

The Boston Hockey Now story also reported that the Red Wings spoke to the Canucks about Horvat. But they weren’t one of the teams talking to the Canucks at the end.

Another reason the Bruins would be interested in Larkin: Bergeron is 37 and David Krejci is 36. Both could retire after this season. The Bruins are going to need another center.