Well I'd say Poirier is MUCH more likely to pass through waivers. Lazar has played in the NHL. Poirier didn't play well in the minors last year. Pretty big difference there. We might put a lot of stock into his rehab work but other NHL teams aren't going to hand him an NHL spot before he's shown he can dominate the AHL again.
Shinkaruk was acquired for a price that's for sure. But we were looking at potentially losing Grandlund on waivers the following fall since the team didn't feel he had locked up a role in Calgary long term. But Shinkaruk wasn't an NHLer and never has been. Lazar has been an NHLer for a few years now.
You're right guys, Lazar isn't technically a lock since anyone might play themselves off the team. But I really don't see any scenarios in which he's waived. It's just not very realistic. He has a 95%+ chance of being on the roster come the start of the season IMO. Haven't seen any quotes from management or coaching staff saying Lazar is in tough to win a role. I think if he was a bubble player this camp then we wouldn't have protected him in the expansion draft and we would've protected Brouwer instead. Them protecting Lazar after acquiring him is a big vote of confidence in him, his abilities and his long term future here. You may see it differently, but we can agree to disagree.
Lazar has 180 NHL games to name. That's more than Sam Bennett has. You'd think from the way some people are talking about him that he's a completely unproven prospect or something. Yeah the start of his career hasn't been outstanding but there's a reason he made the NHL even if OTT rushed him. The kid is a gamer and has talent. I don't think he's in tough to make the team. He can be safely pencilled in IMO.
Here's a recent article on Lazar
http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/f...ear-felt-lost/