Trade Rumor: Dylan Larkin's list and the Bruins

Frank Seravalli just put the Bruins among the teams that are not on Dylan Larkin's trade list, according to a post from the NHL Rumour Report.

It's the latest turn in a story that started when Elliotte Friedman said he'd heard Boston has been wondering why it isn't on the Red Wings center's list. Now there is an answer of sorts, and it comes with a few other names attached.

Seravalli named Buffalo, St. Louis, Boston and Philadelphia as non-list teams, and added that there are all sorts of others. Montreal came up in the same post.

None of that says Boston has called Detroit, or that Larkin would waive anything to come here. It only says where the Bruins stand relative to a list, and that the door is not closed on them the way it might be for a team that made the cut.

On the other side, David Pagnotta reported that if the Bruins can bring in another winger, more so than a center, they'd like to do that. He also called the Larkin situation a different one.

Read that carefully. A winger is the priority, and Larkin, a 30-year-old center with 2 goals and 6 points in 10 games this season, belongs to a separate conversation.

Which raises the obvious problem for general manager Don Sweeney. The center group is not broken. Elias Lindholm has 7 goals and 15 points in 18 games, while Pavel Zacha, Morgan Geekie and John-Jason Peterka each sit at 14 points.

Would Dylan Larkin fit a Bruins center group that works?

Not without pushing somebody out of a job. Lindholm scored again Sunday against the Panthers, Zacha had two assists, and David Pastrnak leads the team with 24 points. A line built around those players just beat Florida 4-1, and the Bruins have won four straight.

Chasing Larkin from that position would be solving a problem Boston does not have. A top-six winger to play with Pastrnak or on the second line would help far more, and Pagnotta's report points the same way.

The standings back that up. At 13-4-1, the Bruins hold first place in the Atlantic with a +27 goal differential, and Montreal is right behind them in second.

The Canadiens, who Seravalli also mentioned, visit Boston on Thursday, November 12. It's the first look at one of the other teams in the Larkin conversation, and the two clubs will be fighting for the same spot in the division.

Quick hits

TAMPA BAY LIGHTNINGJon Cooper says Brayden Point "might miss some time" after leaving Sunday's game in Winnipeg and not returning. Losing your top center is a rough way to start a week.

NEW JERSEY DEVILSConnor Hrabchak is hinting New Jersey could recall goalie David Rittich with Anthony Mantha hurt. The Connor Hellebuyck saga also has a new wrinkle.

GOALIE WATCHBruce Garrioch just reported that Linus Ullmark is ready to return to the Senators' net. Ottawa has been waiting on that news.

WINNIPEG JETSConnor Hellebuyck won't play in Winnipeg on Tuesday, but he will still face the Jets' hometown media. He says he'll explain why he wanted out.

TORONTO MAPLE LEAFSEaston Cowan gave the Leafs their only bright spot in Sunday's 4-0 loss to the Devils, and it started with a stick. Fans noticed.