What I would do

I like that trade with the Flames

Idk KK gets his raise this year and taking on another bad contract ia very unappealing

Unless he gets a bridge deal, but I don’t see him making more than Monahan so Calgary will be fine

He wont make more than SM but him and Byron together will, healthy Monahan is better than both combined too

I see where your head is at, Its not a bad place. Unfortunately though signing Hall and trading Kotkaniemi for Monahan is almost $14 million dollars to not fix your offence, realistically it probably makes the offence overall worse. While simultaneously giving up on a player in Kotka that can grow properly as a Centre with a guy like Danault around.

Its very much a lateral movement to not fix your offence, while also giving up on a future core piece.

keeping Kotkaniemi and using the rest of that money to add legit goals, Blake Coleman, Palmieri , Hoffman for example is probably a much better way to spend less then 7 mill to actually get goals.

I want to add that I respect your opinion here even though I may not agree with the 3 specific players you targeted here, Your process is really close to what needs to actually happen.
play around a little because a run to the finals there will be a lot of players feeling differently about going to MTL to play there.