Umm...

This is weird...

The defensive depth is pretty weak, you have like half a goalie, below everage centers, and maybe the best wingers in the league...

Roughly 20th in the league? Mostly cause I think 3/6 defensemen get eaten alive on the ice, and you don't have the goaltending to make up for it. Hintz, Ehlers, Bjorkstrand, Huberdeau and Svechnikov are all really good players, and Killorn, Dvorak, Henrique etc. are helpful pieces too. This team is like 2 average FA defensemen and a legit #1C from being a true contender.

They don't get because Brodin is there

would have to disagree with your defense comment

Brodin-Ellis is a great pair
Roy-Hronek both fan bases are very high on those guys
Carlo is a really good shutdown guy who is a legit top 4 dman
Tennyson and Ceci stink but the rest are quality

Ellis and Brodin is a legit #1 and a legit #2, no doubt.

Carlo is basically Chris Tanev reincarnated, but not better than a #4, with no offensive contributions at all.

Roy and Hronek haven't proven anything really, and relying on them at this point doesn't speak of depth to me. Now, of course, they could turn out great, and this team could be good, but I don't think they're a slam dunk for playoffs is all.

i think youre underrating Roy and Hronek

Strengthen the D core for sure , and swap lines 1 + 2 wingers , and you can get somewhere with this template !
With THIS squad ...might fight for wild card spot or just miss

Well, I don't have much to rate them on. Hronek actually had some poor underlying numbers iirc - his point total might just be a product of Detroit putting him out there in every attacking situation. I think having super strong opinions about either or both at this point is kind of weird.