Dubas better have a hell of a plan to replace him because he's on thin ice at this point. Re-signing Foligno won't do it, they will have to address this hole via trade...and not a minor one.
You literally answered your own question. Yes, thats obviously the (only) plan when your as married to those 4 contracts as he is; both professionally and what seems like on a personal level as well. Dubas' entire hopes rest on players wanting to come take a discount to play in TO (hometown for many), and maybe get a chance to play with some good players and win a cup - and that illusion of being a contender is quickly fading I might add.
Dubas is ready to live and die on that hill though, thats clear. This kid 100% believes hes the Brad Pitt version of Billy Beane in moneyball, and that he will be proven right. He chose to take a dirty mustache ride that will either lead him towards a cup (lol or a win in the post season FFS lol) and change how some teams look at building their rosters......
Or more realistically, towards his eventual destination where he runs some other teams analytics department in the basement of an arena somewhere. Full circle to where he probably should have started his office career in the NHL (and probably stay down there because advanced stats are a queer and confusing way to look at a hockey game).
I bet that Dubas will be so much more at peace when he realizes that he was actually much closer to being Jonah Hill in moneyball rather than Billy/Brad - but instead in this version Jonah, our "hero", somehow became the Red Sox GM right after meeting Brad Pitt, then he fails miserably with an unlimited budget/resources for several painful years. And then advanced stats ultimately get exposed for being a fantasy that exist only on paper. And the daughters outro song at the end of the movie is notably darker, and gives some details about her having to change her last name and school in the aftermath.....
I bet DJ Smith is begging Pierre Dorion to go after Hyman for the Sens. Its a perfect match in terms of style.