When Fully Healthy

While it doesn't really strike me as a vital addition, I wouldn't be opposed to adding Eller. However, 50% of his cap hit would need to be retained and some salary would need to go back. Not sure I'd bother with such a move until other needs are addressed, though.

still think COL makes the most sense for Eller

Yes


But don’t scratch sonny,

That wouldn't really work for the Caps right now. The point of trading Eller is to free cap space to get Backstrom off of LTIR, so maybe there's another place he can go. The main concept is that he's getting shipped out.

I wouldn't want to, but that seems like the most likely scenario given Laviolette's history. I'd rather put Sheary on the fourth line and scratch Protas, but it's not like he's played poorly. Can't really go wrong.