Why can't we just have Monahan and Gaudreau split up, have Leivo and Simon earn their ice time by playing with Ryan, and have freaking Lucic, Bennett, and Dube as a line again (that did so well in the playoffs):
Tkachuk - Monahan - Lindholm
Gaudreau - Backlund - Mangiapane
Lucic - Bennett - Dube
Simon - Ryan - Leivo
Lindholm can still take draws on his strong side and Monahan on the other.
The more I look at this lineup and with Lindholm as 1C now, the more I see Monahan or Backlund expendable (if you're wanting to keep Bennett). And, if the Bennett 3rd line doesn't work, give Bennett a shot up with the top 6 flanking either Backlund and Gaudreau or Lindholm and Tkachuk.
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