Forgot to say that Johnson goes to boston to help with losing marchand and pasta because of injury.

they’d still decline - they don’t have the money/ room for his contract even if they gain a first, they’d need more incentive to take him / send like more dead cap back like moore, etc

Quite literally any lightning post that doesn't have one of Serg/Cirelli traded is unrealistic.

Killorn isn't bringing back a 2nd.

Nice try, but CBJ declines.
So far, NHL team's have adhered to the unwritten code, and no team has Offer-Sheeted Cirelli or Sergachev.
That being said, every team knows that TB is in a bind.

There is absolutely no way CBJ would take on McDonough and his salary/term (6 x 6.75) while giving up Savard and a 4th.
CBJ is going to have to re-sign Dubois, Bjorkstrand, Domi, Werenski, & Jones in the next couple of years.

To unload salary & term, TB is going to have to pay to do so, primarily with picks &/or prospects.
It doesn't matter that Johnson, Killorn, McDonough are still decent players.
On most teams, Johnson & Killorn will be overpaid 3rd line players.
On the Jackets, McDonough would be an overpaid 2nd pairing player.

Yeah, it would take more than a 1st since we're divisional rivals and BOS-TBL is a rivalry for the past 3 years.
I see so many people saying " because Marchand and Pastrnak are injured ". Marchand will be back in mid-January and Pastrnak in mid-February. Do you really think the season starts on January 1? It's unlikely imo so we'll probably be only missing 88 for 2 weeks or so, if the season starts in February. Bruins still need to sign DeBrusk and maybe make a trade for a dman so it will be hard to acquire another player with $3M+ cap hit if Moore is still there.

4m for cirelli isn't going to happen. he'll use point's 2019 extension as a comparable and angle for a 6-7m deal. i suspect he will also be perfectly happy to hold out during the second COVID season if they don't give him the money he wants.

No team wants Johnson and his 5m X 4 contract. McDonagh doesn't waive his NTC for Columbus or virtually any team. (not that CBJ want him long term anyways).
Certainly no Atlantic division team and probably no Eastern Conference teams are helping Tampa out of their cap mess.
Start offering players of value.....KIllorn and his M NTC, and the RFAs as possible trades.