Malenstyn should also be in the mix, albeit at the expense of more upside overall perhaps. Brown would have been that sort of player. Protas, definitely. This is also an area where Mantha, for similar reasons, could be challenged to apply himself. Take up room, clog the lane, skate a bit harder at times. That sort of thing could roll over into more determined 5v5 play. CMM/Lapierre don't have the grit for it probably and you wonder if at least one won't be shipped out for a forward either more supremely skilled or capably assertive.
With Dowd & Wilson out and Oshie banged up there's a lack of consistent tonesetters up front currently. They desperately need them back for a push to qualify. Strome is fine top six C insurance at least and maybe what allows them to move on from 92 at some point but doesn't really scratch that itch as an altogether building-block type. Useful to have...but we'll see what sort of extra he can summon when the season is on the line.
I'm not sure Malenstyn is someone who should be getting a jersey on a regular basis. He's a guy who tops out at 4th line energy player, and there's better options for that role in the organization and elsewhere. He's got grit, but probably shouldn't be part of the equation for determining roster decisions.
For this season - definitely agree Mantha should be part of the mix and this would be an area that Brown would have been appreciated (although he does get scored on a lot on the PK, at least he offsets some of it with shorties).
But in the longer term, I absolutely think CMM or Lapierre could become PKers. PKing doesn't take a ton of grit, particularly at the forward end of things. You don't need to scrape out a ton of wins along the boards or bulldoze the crease as a forward on the PK. You need to read-and-react well, take up space, have an active stick, be able to kill time along the half-wall, and clear the puck effectively more than anything else. Those are things that skilled players and smaller guys can do effectively. Sheary is one of our primary PKers now, and while he's got heart and hustle he's not exactly a dominating force along the boards. Mitch Marner kills penalties for Toronto. Kailer Yamomoto does for Edmonton. Jake DeBrusk for Boston. Etc.