improving in one area while getting weaker in another is not an overall improvement. sure they have improved at 3C with the PLD add (likely PD moving down one spot). But we're weaker at Goalie, arguably weaker at the 4th line, still haven't improved lack of toughness/size and our two main guys are yet another year older (not getting better...and WILL get worse..just a matter of time).
Honestly, i see us about the same as last year.
I think goaltending is TBD, Talbot was a fine goaltender prior to his arrival in Ottawa. I view him as a potential Darcy Kuemper, who bounced back after going from a cellar dweller in Arizona to Colorado.
The Kings are now three lines deep versus just two lines deep, and the fourth line might get better with the addition of Lewis. They certainly haven't addressed the physicality part of the fourth line, but that's where you'd hope that the signing of Englund can help address that area.
Unfortunately, not too many options out there to fill that role who can still play a meaningful role. It might have to come internally with the likes of Helenius and Lee, who could hopefully some day be the next Dwight King/Jordan Nolan types on the team.
The PP improved significantly from 2021-22 to 2022-23, but the PK was the same crappy, passive unit. That's the biggest area of concern for me. Jim Hiller made a big difference to how the team performed offensively, but the same can't be said with Trent Yawney and whatever it is he was seeing out there. These coaches kept putting Sean Durzi on the friggin' PK.
I've said it countless times, the coaching is the big hang up for me. Todd McLellan's system has been exposed in the playoffs, but I think the way the roster is composed can be competitive and can come out on top of the Western Conference with some competent coaching.