That's a tough group to separate IMO...
Sova and Misiak hold the most value and Pano is really coming of age here.
Alfano, McDonald, and Smith are more 3rd line guys IMO. I don't know if you'd get the return needed out of any of these 3 to get a decent defender or net minder without disrupting the offense.
I think it is safe to say through this point in the season Roysten, Hammond, Toroptsev, and Messier can't replace a Smith, McDonald, or Alfano so getting rid of any of those 3 is a step backwards to MAYBE move forward?
We have a pretty bare cupboard in picks, but I wouldn't put it past DB to move a middle person and some picks for an upgrade, kind of how they envisioned Daviault to compliment Sova when we shipped out Kyrou.
Edit: I'd also like to add moving Johnston pretty much removes the entire enforcement aspect of our back line, what little there is right now. He's the only one back there willing to throw his body around and protect teammates IMO.