Is still feel that the top-6 will have more success if they play Laich-Ribeiro-Ovechkin together and Erat-Backstrom-Brouwer.
The first line should probably be handed favorable o-zone starts, while the 2nd line can go against the other teams top line.
Laich can handle Ribs faceoffs and help Ovi bang bodies on the forecheck, more then MoJo will at least. And judging by what we saw from the 2nd line in the playoff Ribs need a top finisher to be successful.
Erat-Backy-Brouwer are all defensively responsible and should have a nice blend of skill to compliment each other. It also takes some offensive production responsibility off of Backstrom which should benefit him and give him the chance to cycle the puck once in a while since both Ovi and MoJo suck at it.
Re-signing Ribeiro won't be as hard if Mojo is traded for help at 2LD (Luca Sbisa?) and Schultz and Ward's contracts are terminated.
A 3rd line with Chimera-Perreault-Fehr is totally fine with me and some combo of Hendricks, Volpatti, Beagle, Latta, Mitchell, Wilson, UFA? On te 4th line.