The premise of this thread makes no sense.
Explain why you can't keep Buff and Trouba? They are now our best D pairing...
The problematic contracts on D are Enstrom and Stuart (and Clitsome), both overpaid, both gone in two seasons - you could easily sign Buff and Trouba to long-term deals and be fine.
Next year, Morrissey is on entry level, Lemieux, Armia and Ehlers in lineup, Trouba and Lowry get bridge deals... Scheifele's contract replaces Ladd's... lots of cap space.