Oddly, we're 10th in the league in SA/60 at 5v5, and 9th in xGA/60. Even HDCA/60 is middle of the pack at 15th. Last year we were around the bottom 3rd of the league in all three of those stats. Granted, it's a small sample.
There have been breakdowns, every team has them, and there have been times when it's seemed like we were under assault, but the team has done a pretty good job of getting in the lanes and reducing the quality of chances against. Where they have struggled imo is bearing down and getting the clear when they do get in trouble, which means they defend more often than they should.
I've liked both new guys on the D, Kleven and Jensen have been good, and Kleven seems to be getting more and more comfortable. Sanderson is Sanderson, and while Chabot still has his bad habits, I think he's going to fit well with Jensen.
Hamonic has been uneven, I'd like to get a look at JBD there, but with Zub potentially out, we'll have to wait for that.
Up front, I'd like to see us be a bit more consistent on the forecheck. Tkachuk had a slow start so far, he can be better, but Pinto looks great, Norris seems to be closer to his old form after shaking off some early rust, though I haven't seen that one timer. I really don't like Gaudette on the 4th line, I think we need more size/grit, and defensive awareness for that role, he would be a good callup for the 3rd line perhaps. .