These Reports Just Changed EVERYTHING For The Bruins...

Dylan Larkin was out of Detroit, and he handed the Red Wings a list of 10 teams he would accept a trade to, and the Boston Bruins were not on that list. But two of the most connected reporters in hockey just said that list might not matter. Chris Johnson and the Hockeypedia cast, on October 22nd, my hunch is that he ultimately is traded to a team that isn't currently on the list of 10 teams. Then David Pagnotta, on every day, on October 24th, the longer this goes, does Boston become a factor? Do the Habs become a factor? Do the Kings, another team, San Jose or whomever? Boston is the first team that he named, and I think he is right too, because the longer this drags on, the better it gets for the Bruins. So where do we actually stand? Larkin's list started at three teams. It's now reportedly 10. These are the teams following Florida, Minnesota, Vegas, Dallas, Washington, Carolina, Utah, Tampa Bay, New Jersey, and Colorado. Here's the part that makes it hard for Detroit. Larkin has an $8.7 million cap hit that runs through 2030-31, and a no-trade clause. He does not get traded, he picks where he goes. And, from what we know, Detroit is not giving him away. Darren Dreger reported the ask is a two A-level prospects, a player who can play in the NHL right now, and a first-round pick. Minnesota is pushing hardest, according to Pierre Lebrun. Michael Russo says the Wilds' offer likely includes a good young player, a couple of roster players, and multiple first-round picks. Detroit also wants a young center's back, and the names that keep coming up for Minnesota is Danil Yurov. So this is not a quick fix. The free press says it takes a multi-team trade just to leave everyone satisfied. And the player himself is not exactly forcing anyone's hand. Through nine games this season, he has one goal and four assists for five points on 28 shots. One more thing that keeps this from being simple, Montreal fans chanted, and the Canadiens have been linked to him again. But TSM reports said he would not approve a move to Montreal. He told them he is a Red Wing. And Detroit is not winning either. The Red Wings are 4-4-3 for 11 points, 7th in the Atlantic. While the former captain who once out sits in the middle of their roster, that clock is ticking on both sides. David Pagnotta did not just say Boston. He named four teams. Boston, the Habs, the Kings, and San Jose. So let me tell you who is actually in the way. Starting with the Habs, we've covered that. Larkin reportedly will not approve Montreal. The Kings, multiple reports link them to Larkin, but Pierre Lebrun's understanding is that they are not on his list either. San Jose, the same story. Not one of the 10. And that leaves Boston as really the one team on Pagnotta's list with a real roster right now, a real record, and the space to make the money work. Here's why waiting is actually in Boston's favor. The reason one is the price is going to fall. One goal on 28 shots is not what you want attached to a Drager asking price like we saw moments ago. That's my read, not a report necessarily, but every week he does not score, that package seems to be dropping and dropping and dropping. Reason two, the list is a squeeze. Of the 10 teams on it, several reportedly do not have the cap space to absorb $8.7 million, and Detroit cannot send him somewhere he does not approve. A list that is too small is exactly how a team like Boston gets invited in. Reason 3, Minnesota's best chip is getting better Daniil Yurov is the center in nearly every Wild package 4 goals, 5 points in 13 games and the Wild may not want to move him after all Reason 4, and this is the big one Boston do not need him necessarily The Bruins are 9-2-1 with 19 points First in the Atlantic after 12 games 3 points clear of Ottawa and Toronto A team that is winning can wait Now every other team Chasing Larkin has a reason to move now Boston has the opposite That is leverage And the leverage which turns 8.7 million question into a bargain There's also the cap Boston has 5.227 million dollars in cap space today And two of their centers Pavel Zacha at 4.75 And Charlie Coyle at 5.75 million Both come off the books after this season So how does it work where the Bruins can get a deal? You have to start with the math Larkin counts 8.7 million Boston has 5.23 million so about 3.5 million has to go the other way and that is before Detroit retains anything so option one you can build it around Zacha he's 4.75 million he is expiring and he is a clear center that Larkin would push out of the top spot one fan pitch had Zaka a prospect and a first rounder going to Detroit in that deal option two lead with middle stat he has 5.75 million dollars he has no clause he is a center's joint could use on their team hasn't played middle with the Bruins but is one that certainly can that one keeps the cap clean but it costs Bruins a useful forward and option three is already one that insiders are hinting at the list opens again it already went from three teams to 10 and if Detroit keeps struggling and Larkin keeps waiting adding Boston could cost nothing and gets him a first place team And remember, I said Larkin has a no-trade clause, so the question for Boston is not what Detroit wants, it's whether Larkin would want Boston. A first-place team in a division race is not really a hard thing to solve. Now the fit, this is where it gets interesting, because the Bruins' top line already has a center. Pavel Zaka plays between Morgan Geeky and David Pasternak, and Zaka's producing 7 points in 11 games, 2 goals, 5 assists, that's .64 points a game, Larkin is at .56, 5 points in 9 games. So this is not a case of fixing a broken line. It is a bet that last year's Larkin comes back. 34 goals and 67 points in 74 games. And last year, Zaka had 30 goals, 65 points in 78 games. If that Larkin shows up, he gives Boston a first line center with a real power play pedigree. Three of his five points a season have come off the power play. And just think about what it does for David Pasternak. He has 17 points in 12 games, the most on the team by seven. you give him a center who can finish plays, and you can see the pitch. But here's the catch, and the reason that I say patience is the key. The Bruins center group is already sorted out. Charlie Coyle has 10 points in 12 games, 5 goals, 5 assists, and he's second-line center. Elias Lindholm has 10 points as well. 4 goals, 6 assists, he's on the third line, and he's winning 60.3% of his face-offs. If you add Larkin without sending a center back in the other direction, somebody loses their job. Zaka moves to the wing or Minton slides to the third line, Lindholm to four, whatever happens with Matt Poacher then a nine two and one team starts a puzzle it does not need and then the money gets heavy, Minton's contract jumps to 7.2 million a year starting in 27-28, Lindholm is at 7.75 million dollars through 2031, you add Larkin 8.7 million and that's a 23.65 million dollar salary on 3 centers in 27-28. There is a second cost that nobody mentions as well. Detroit wants young centers back, and the young centers Boston have are the ones that are working. James Hagens has 9 points in 12 games, Minton has 10, Matt Poitras has 7 in 9 games, and he's the 4th line center. So the price of Larkin really is not a pick, it's one of the very players that made the center group the thing that nobody's worried about right now. This is why I like the Zaka version, because it sends out the center Larkin replaces and covers most of the cap this season, but it understands the real cost. 27-28 on Boston's paying three centers more than $7 million each. So here's where I land. The question is, should the Bruins chase Larkin right now? No, probably not. They're first in the division. They have their centers at work. They don't really need it. If the question is, should they stay on the phone? Absolutely. A price that falls, a list that's probably not going to hold, and Larkin, who does not want to play in Detroit, That will continue. This is a bargain that's waiting to happen at some point. I mean, we look at the pieces. Chris Johnson believes he lands somewhere off the list. Pagnotta believes Boston is the first name to watch. Larkin has five points in nine games. Has a no trade clause. Detroit hasn't asked. Nobody in the meeting. You know, Boston has the record, the cap room, and everything. They have the timing. What I do not want to see is two A-level prospects and a first. If Detroit wants that, they'll let another team have it. Tell me in the comments below. do you want Larkin in Boston or do you want to keep Zaka and let this play out and if you want to see how the rest of it plays out there's a video on screen right now be sure to go check it out