Wasn't sure what else to call it. Either way, assuming the alternative would be better just because the route taken didn't measure up to hype certain people gave him is annoying to read. You wanted Lazar to go to junior, he didn't light the world on fire last year, so we made a mistake AND YOU WERE RIGHT!!!!. That's often the tone that comes with most second guessing of the GM. I guess maybe insecurity wasn't such a bad choice there. Doesn't mean everyone.
And yes, absolutely agree that there was over expectation from some - that always happens as soon as management says things along the lines of "we are excited about ________". A lot of people who watch hockey regularly fail to see the game for themselves and instead rely on media. Conversely, if they could, they'd probably spend less wasting time on second guessing people who are - without question - more hockey intelligent than they are. And as you said, we'll never know.
A lot of people also talk about going back to junior like it's going to be this year of offensive skill epiphanies. It won't. He would have scored 60 goals the same way he did scoring less in years prior - a wide variety of ways. Crash/bangs, shots, breakaways, deflections, wraparounds. He'll do the same in the NHL, may be a threat to score 30 in a few outlier years but he's more or less probably gonna be a top 2 line 40-60 point guy. Also a guy that may sign long term and wear a letter.
Never drafted to be a skill superstar upward 35 goals. He was drafted because he routinely showed the ability to outplay top players. Give him another 1-3 years and he's probably a guy that's gonna do very good things every night in a way that Mark Stone does even when he isn't scoring.
