Good lineup, a few thoughts: Do you really see Beaulieu and Danault in their respective spots, or is it just like a "maybe" spot. Also, thought on Plekanec, is Vegas likely to not take him just to force Montreal to blink on Shipachev and Radulov?
Would love to see this lineup tear it up, biggest benefit is they lose nothing when bringing in players from the KHL (modest trade for Kovalchuk)

Sorry for the late response... Ideally Danault would be centering the 3rd line, but that wouldn't happen unless montreal got duchene or another top center who can handle the defensive responsibilities of playing 1st line. Danault had an ok first season with Radulov and pacioretty so perhaps he can build on that chemistry and maybe their line won't get as much attention with the addition of kovalchuk and shipachev.

Shipachev is the better centerman obviously but I'm trying to recreate the Panarin-Shipachev-Dadanov line, with Kovalchuk and Galchenyuk. They are both snipers with high skill and shipachev being more of a playmaker would be able to make lots of great plays if he has 2 one-timer options... Radulov is already the playmaker on the other line and I don't think him and shipachev should play together if we have a good offensive 2nd line for shipachev.

On Beaulieu... I think he should be playing 1st pair with Weber or traded. Ideally I think Beaulieu is the best player montreal could play with weber, and WOWY stats from hockey analysis back that statement up. If he isn't playing with weber might as well trade him because the team has Jarabek and Sergachev who are cheaper options to play 3rd Pair. (Beaulieu and Petry is a bad combo and shouldn't happen IMO meaning 1st or 3rd Pair for Beaulieu)

Also on Vegas... I don't think they would pass on him to hurt montreal, they will be looking for the best ways to help there team... if I'm a (big) free agent I'd avoid a team like vegas unless I'm only interested in cash. But I think Vegas passing on players like plekanec to keep cap space in the hopes of attracted free agents is a risky move.