Red Wings Larkin caught off guard by Montreal fans’ chants

In his 11-season NHL career, Dylan Larkin had played 17 games at Montreal's Bell Centre for the Detroit Red Wings. The 18th visit proved to be quite different. As a Detroit star player, Larkin is used to boos from opposing fanbases, but on Saturday, he received applause and chants of "We Want Larkin" from the Bell Centre crowd, hoping to persuade him to consider a future with the Canadiens.

The reception was a result of Larkin's trade request from Detroit in June, following years of frustration, including criticism of management during a 2025 trade deadline when Detroit hoped for a playoff spot. His captaincy was also recently stripped.

Larkin acknowledged the raw emotions from the unexpected reception, focusing on the game rather than the attention. Despite boos during his first two games due to an upper-body injury, he returned to the lineup and scored in a 5-3 Detroit win against the Ottawa Senators. His future remains uncertain, but Montreal supporters are hopeful their city will be added to his list of potential trade destinations.