I generally agree with your assessment...but I think you are giving too much of a pass on those "counting stats"
Do you not agree that this team has a goal scoring problem? If you don't then nevermind.. but if you do, I think there are shortfalls from Haula, Palat, Mercer, Tatar, Meier, Bratt in terms of goals...and even the 4th line as whole is a bit short too but that's mostly inconsequential
If Meier is a 30 goal scorer right now , I believe this team is in a completely different situation.
And correct me if I'm wrong ... that's what we all believed we were getting when we made that trade and subsequent contract?