They've got the skill, but it's tough to break through from the "close but not quite" territory.
The last couple of years they don't generate enough consistent pressure and spend enough time in the high danger area. When they're hot and scoring from everywhere/on the PP it's fine, but when they're cold those bad stretches keep going for too long and they're kind of losing in multiple different ways, whether it's getting completely worked, not generating enough offense or losing a lead.
We'll see if they're a different team this year, but at least the roster is largely the same, and coaching as well. Not a fan of the vets on D either.
A great season from one of their goalies would do wonders and mask some of their issues, kind of like Vasy for Tampa in 17-18. But Talbot has been like the team lately. He's had solid stretches and then been sitting on the bench in favor of another goalie.
In my opinion for them to make it, it takes a good season and probably a couple other teams to disappoint unless something has changed. I had them as the most likely to make the playoffs last year of the Detroit/Ottawa/Buffalo trio, and while they did only miss by a tiebreaker, it was a great opportunity and they couldn't take advantage. I'm not making predicting them to make the playoffs again.