If this was the case, Edvinsson would have played 82 games last year (minus injury time). He was obviously at worst our third best defenseman in every single game that he played. Management can make mistakes. We can have a systematic flaw in our evaluation as a team. Last year we didn't get AlJo any games. That was an obvious failure. Berggren barely played, obvious failure. Kasper and Mazur didn't even get a cup of coffee, obvious failure. We had 4 fringe NHL defenseman playing consistent minutes while Edvinsson dominated the AHL, so it's not like playing well in GR is the problem.
And Yzerman made room for Ed by dumping Walman, after Ed proved he was ready in those games. He earned his call up, when there is a need for call up, earlier and then in those games he proved that can, not only play but contribute for the team.
How exactly AlJo not getting any games is a failure? D stayed relatively healthy all season, 6 d-men missed 44 games, 7th D Holl only played 38 games and Ed played 16 games. Where exactly you fit Johansson? Kasper and Mazur weren't ready and playing 1-2 NHL games doesn't play a special factor in development, it's not a must and they get their games next season. So definitely not a failure.
As for Berggren, unfortunately for him Kane arrived and Larkin missed 14 games, Compher 5 games, Copp 3 games and Veleno 2 games. So for 24 games they needed a center, what Berggren is not and Czarnik is, so that explains 24 out his 34 games. The other 10 could have gone to Berggren unless Lalonde wanted a player who can play in different role than Berggren. But does that really matter anymore? Berggren plays top-9 & PP minutes next season regulary.
Every prospect gets their chance to show their readiness in the camp and if they are ready they get called up, when they are needed and then they can really prove if they are ready, when all the teams are playing for points. And they manage to do that, then Yzerman starts getting rid off the plugs. I don't see a flaw in that system, prospects has to work their way up and work to stay up. That teachess not to take anything for granted and competitiveness stays high, all the time.