I really like this build, but I have two big issues with it:
1. JVR is gonna need more than 5.3M after his monster season this year.
2. I love Slavin and Hanifin, but if I'm the Hurricanes, idk if I'm satisfied with this D corps moving forward.

I agree JVR is going to need more than 5.3. 6-7 mil is what he is looking for. I don't agree that the Canes are dissatisfied with their D - the entire team had a down year and their goalies absolutely lost games for them. Slavin and Hanfin's stats were down and bad but Darling didnt help in that respect.

I don’t mean to say that the Hurricanes are presently dissatisfied with their defense, and I certainly don’t mean to suggest that they should move on from Slavin or Hanifin, but in this hypothetical they lose Faulk and try to replace him internally with McKeown. Maybe you disagree, but I don’t think that right side looks like a contender at all.

I agree to an extent. Faulk had himself by far the worst year offensively and defensively of his career. Without him, ya, the RHD is weaker. McKeown showed some promise but that's all unknown. There aren't any good replacement options either. But, if Faulk is moved for an offensive comment, and McKeown holds his own, I don't think the D will be as weak as it looks on paper. But who knows haha