From 2010-16, they were a Frankenstein roster (drafting/developing Huberdeau, Barkov and Ekblad) with vets like Fleischmann, Versteeg, Kopecky, Campbell, Boyes, etc. They would struggle to score and get by with really good goaltending and decent defense.
From 2016-2020, they could score a ton in top 6, barely any depth in bottom 6, couldn't defend and got by with average to good goaltending. Drafting and developing has been an issue along with constant ownership/management change.
This past year was too much change imo, new goalie, new coach, 5 new position players.
This year they may lose a ton of offense if Hoffman doesn't come back.
They may go young up front again with Tippett and Denisenko getting looks while trying to patch up the defense which Zito has done a decent job at so far. (Matheson out, Gudas and Nutivaara in)
Just drafted a hopeful 2C in Lundell, have a stud goalie prospect in Knight and some mid level defense prospects with good bottom 6 forward group.
They got tougher to play against but they will need their forward prospects to step in and produce right away while drafting more defense going forward.