No one (well at least not me) is saying that the Komarov deal was the "singular" cause for losing Toews, however it's completely disingenuous to say it wasn't at least part of the reason. If Lou had an additional 3M to work with when Toews was due a new contract then he could've kept him. I also agree that Covid pulled out the rug, but handing out bad contracts anytime is not good GMing as at some point it will always restrict your options.
Sorry, I've been away for some time...
But when your critique of Lou is Hickey and Komarov... then it is essentially expecting perfection. Because every GM has their version of Hickey and Komarov. But what is worse is that many in this fanbase will critique those signings while ignoring the circumstances of that offseason. Moreover, there is the hypocrisy of fans that criticize those signings and then complain when prospects of the past like Neidereitter and Bailey were left unsheltered.
Again, my point is that these signings are not some smoking gun condemnation of Lou. Certainly not to the extent you keep making it out to be. These criticisms strike me similar to Leaf fans and how they complain about Lou leaving the Leafs in a terrible state... and then present their one example in Marleau. All while ignoring how that situation could've easily been managed without the self-inflicted damage by the current Leafs management.
As for Toews, I don't know what more you need to see that there were other issues that led to him being moved... COVID flat cap, arbitration, offer-sheet threat to Pulock and Barzal etc.
As for Lou going forward, he clearly made this year a referendum on himself with Trotz firing. Hopefully ownership keeps that in regard while evaluating his supposed final year... that's what a professionally functional organization would do.