Canadiens have Dylan Larkin offer ready for Red Wings

The Habs are done waiting on Detroit. Now they're waiting on Larkin, and Pagnotta made it sound like the deal is already sitting on the table.

Daily Faceoff

@DailyFaceoff

"I think Montreal has an offer that they're ready to present to Detroit [for Larkin]... that will get them over the finish line" David Pagnotta on how quickly a deal could happen if Larkin adds Montreal to his trade list. Catch the latest NHL news on episode 3 of 'DFO Insider' with @JeffMarek & @TheFourthPeriod, out now! 📺: t.co/dtx4IfKApk 🎧: t.co/vuWEJlSR57 🍎:

That's the whole saga in one quote. According to Pagnotta, the Canadiens wouldn't need weeks of back-and-forth with the Red Wings. Their offer is ready to go, and he says it's the one that gets it over the finish line. What's missing is the player's signature on the destination list, and so far Larkin hasn't budged.

Here's how we got here. Larkin made his trade request public back in June and lost the captaincy before training camp. He's in year 4 of an 8-year, $69.6 million deal that carries an $8.7 million cap hit, so every trade has to go through his approved list. TSN's Pierre LeBrun reported Tuesday that the list has grown to 10 teams. Montreal still isn't one of them.

Daily Faceoff

@DailyFaceoff

Location continues to be the sticking point for a Dylan Larkin trade: t.co/ycaMZwg3Gl

Location is the sticking point, and the frustrating part is that Montreal looks like the obvious fit. Last week an NHL executive told Frank Seravalli that Larkin "could end this saga tomorrow if he added the Canadiens to his list." Montreal could slot him in as a second-line center behind Nick Suzuki, and the Habs have the young pieces and draft capital Detroit wants back. Meanwhile, Bell Centre fans chanted "We want Larkin" during a 1-0 shootout win on Saturday. LeBrun reported the list didn't change after that night either.

In Detroit, the Larkin situation isn't the only one the front office is juggling. The Free Press beat writer has been tracking where the club stands with him and with young defenseman Simon Edvinsson.

Helene St. James

@HeleneStJames

Latest on where Detroit Red Wings are at with Simon Edvinsson and Dylan Larkin t.co/OguDkmiGHj via @freep

So the next move belongs to Larkin. If he adds Montreal, Pagnotta's reporting says this could come together fast. If he keeps the Habs off the list, Detroit is stuck negotiating with the 10 teams he did approve, none of which apparently has Montreal's combination of a ready offer and a roster that can contend. Montreal has done its part. Now Larkin has to decide how badly he wants out.