Something like that would be the only semi-realistic scenario where we trade Hoffman and become a better team. If we trade Hoff for futures and don't replace him I don't think we make the playoffs next season.
Imagine:
MacArthur - Turris - Eriksson
Drouin - Zibanejad - Ryan
Smith - Pageau - Stone
Dzingel - Lazar - Neil
Puempel/Paul
Unreal offense.
MacA - should be a third liner on a contending team, probably won't be the same since this injury.
Turris - borderline number one C, if Z steps it up it wouldn't matter, but I'm not at all impressed with Zibanejad
Eriksson - aging over the hill vet, slow and bad
Drouin - He'd better be as good as he's supposed to be to carry the useless Zibanejad and floater Ryan around
Third line: Smith is having a career year, but whatever
Pageau - he's fine there
Stone - why would stone be on the third line if he's the best forward?
Fourth line is a wash, dzingel is an unknown and Lazar is meh, Neil is usually terrible.
The team needs a real third pairing, better coaching, a goalie to replace Anderson soon, and a legit number one centre or a superstar winger to elevate the play of those around him. Drouin could be that guy but idk, I don't think that team looks better than what we have now.