It seems like you’re rationalizing things in retrospect. Not a mind reader but Colorado had Makar when they drafted him, so you’re safe there about not projecting him as a top pairing D. But he was taken with a 1st so you can probably expect there was some hope he’d be a 2nd pairing. When he was traded, Montreal didn’t have anything close to a Makar. But it kind of seems like a feeble assumption to think they traded Lehkonen for a guy they were hoping would be a 3rd pairing D.
You’re assuming I’m referring to Michkov when I’ve been banging the drum about Montreal needing the high end 1C. That was a F heavy draft, no?
I don't know what kind of value you think Lehkonen had, but the majority of people (Habs fans and others) were saying Barron+2nd was solid value. Barron disappointed, but a prospect is a prospect, it's always a gamble. At the time of the trade, Barron was seen as a future #4-6 D, which has no impact on whether Montreal would select a potential top pair D in the 2023 draft.
What #1C would you be talking about? I see a bunch of potential wingers and 2C drafted after Reinbacher, but all the blue chips Cs were drafted before. I don't think any of Leonard, Danielson or Dvorsky will be a better C than Suzuki.
I don't understand your obsession in having a loser in this trade.