Acquiring Kessel pushes Kunitz out of the top 6. Plotnikov pushes Dupuis out too. The bottom 6 will be completely different than last year. People aren't taking this into consideration when looking at the lineup.
Plotnikov-Sutter-Dupuis
Sundqvist-FA-Bennett
only 2 of those guys were even on the team for most of last year.
The problem with the Penguins for years now according to their metrics, is that they rarely have the puck and produce no offense when those two aren't on the ice. I'm not sure they've addressed that. Their big acquisition in Phil Kessel certainly doesn't; he's a woeful possession player. This won't be a noticeable detriment for the Pens because 1)he'll be playing with one of Crosby or Malkin who could carry my 64-year-old father and 2)Toronto is black hole so it's very possible his numbers aren't as bad as they appear on a halfway decent team. Still, it doesn't improve the issue.
The 3rd line is very interesting. Kunitz is a good solid possession player. The RW depends on how Plotnikov shakes out but either he or Dupuis are passable options. The line is still centered by Brandon Sutter who is just a deplorable shot-generator and shouldn't be in anyone's top 9 anywhere.
When Kunitz was in his prime and they had James Neal who is one of the best possession wingers in the league, the Pens thrived with players that went and got the puck for the big guns. Hornqvist is good but still a downgrade and Kunitz isn't that player. That's what was missing IMO from a team we usually see near the top of the standings.
Phil Kessel does NOT address this. He'll put in everything Crosby feeds him but Crosby will have to do EVERYTHING else. That was exactly the problem last year.