I love Hertl with the Joe's. Honestly, the 3 of them are amazing together. That line is just way, way better with Hertl back in the line up.
But we shouldn't go into another SCF with Hertl on that top line. His knee is simply too much of a liability, when there is no one to replace him up there. I said this before, but I am not saying a team would run him to win the cup - but I don't even want to present that option.
Hertl at 3c shelters him from injury, gives him an opportunity to carry a line, and spreads out our scoring depth. It's simply the best all-around option.
A LW1, especially non-rental which is what we should target, isn't cheap. But they are available and we can get it done without compromising the team's ability to compete. Be it Dillion, Braun, Goldobin, Labanc, Schlemko or Ward - we have enough expendables to make it happen.
And IMO, it will hurt us if we don't.
Maybe Druin is no longer a possibility. Nash definitely is though.
Nash - Jumbo - Pavs would do very, very well. Timo - Hertl - Donskoi would do very, very well. Marleau - Couture - Boedker can hopefully keep this up and continue doing very, very well.
That's what we should hope for.
That's what I am hoping for, atleast.