[Caged Great]

I like the thought of throwing Chucky out there on the first line. Gives Gaudreau protection as Tkachuk is a pain to play against and Tkachuk is a 1st line talent. That also provides a whole host of other options for the rest of the lineup. It is vastly easier to go out and get a middle six forward than a 1st line RW. A guy like Versteeg now becomes a perfectly acceptable budget option, as would a whole number of other players. Additionally, it does provide the option to play a rookie with Frolik and Backlund, say Jankowski to shelter that player as they transition into the NHL. Janko would be perfect for that line as he is known for being a high quality two way forward. What better players to put him with than two other high quality two way forwards.

If that's the case, perhaps you don't even need a forward up front and can just stock the team with defense for the offseason.

A lineup of

Gaudreau-Monahan-Tkachuk
Jankowski-Backlund-Frolik
Ferland-Bennett-Brouwer
Bouma-Stajan-Lazar
Chiasson

Gio-Hamilton
Brodie-Hamonic
Stone/similar-Kulak/Andersson

Smith
Johnson or similar

would be very formidable and would have virtually zero weaknesses.