You don't win when it matters when your top 3 centers are Monahan - Backlund - Janko.
Simply put Backlund needs to be the #3 C (and would be the best 3rd line C in the league) and at worst you need to add a 1b type center to form a 1-2 punch with Monahan.
As we're not gonna be drafting high and aren't a prime UFA destination, the best and maybe only way to get that C is by trading Johnny.
A trade centered around Johnny for Couturier makes a lot of sense.
And then go hard after Hall as a Johnny replacement - maybe a deal centered around Hanifin + a 1st.
Couturier - Monahan - Backlund down the middle with Hall, Tkachuk, Lindholm as your top wingers and Bennett, Dube, Mangiapane rounding out the top 9 is much better than the current forward group.
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