I wouldn't be shocked to see us trade for a goalie prior to the deadline. I know that sounds bat-shit crazy, but given how few starts Darling is getting, even a 'meh' goalie would be an improvement and allow Ward some rest. While I think it is most likely that we don't trade for any center and go with what we have this year plus Necas next year, I could see us doing something like this prior to the deadline with Buffalo:
Buffalo gets: Rask, 2018 1st, Fleury, McKeown
Canes get: ROR, Lehner
This would get Peters his hard working, better offensive skills center plus solidify the goalie position. We'd likely have to hold three goalies and 23 players for the rest of the season, but at the end of it we can decide if we want to resign Lehner, resign Ward, or resign both and shed Darling's contract. I'd vote for the latter, but who knows how Lehner plays here. This would leave us with this lineup for the rest of the year:
Skinner - ROR - Williams
Aho - Staal - TT
Stemp - Ryan - Lindholm
Nordy - Kruger - McGinn
One of the reasons I've thought of this trade is about the possibilities of JT making UFA. If he does and is evaluating where he wants to go, I doubt he would consider us if we have not fixed our goalie situation. He is living the nightmare right now of a decent team with terrible goaltending and is likely not to chose that again if he has other options. Lehner is a UFA after the season and has decent numbers despite playing on one of the worst teams in the league. He'd be much less of a crap shoot as another backup to starter option like Darling. I'd rather try a Lehner/Ward due next year, but I'd also be ok with a Lehner/Darling if the team decided they didn't want to pay someone to take him or just buy him out.
So, if that were to occur, then our roster for next year could be at worst:
Skinner - ROR - Williams
Aho - Staal - TT
Zykov - Necas - Lindholm
McGinn - Kruger - McLovin
and at best:
Aho - JT - TT
Lindholm - Staal - Williams
Skinner- ROR - Necas
McGinn - Kruger - McLovin