This still doesn't make any sense. Maybe the Panthers have 2 cups instead of 1. Leafs here are mostly irrelevant to the situation. Like sure, Dubas messed up. But Marchment didn't leave and then put up 90 points. He played for the Leafs 5 years ago which is an eternity in sports.
The Panthers were the ones who identified the player,. put them in the right position, saw the value they provided, and let him walk for a steal to another contender.
Just like no one is saying "man how did the Panthers let Hyman go for McKegg. Oilers are really benefiting from their mistake". No, because it was the Leafs who found the player and got them to where they are only to let them go for free.
If the panthers keep Marchment someone making good money has to be out to fit in his 4.5M
Cant see any panther fan wanting Marchment over Lundell, Bennett, Verhaghe.
E-Rod vs Marchment you can argue but again 1 cup + another final appearance will make a team not care about ppg marchment as actual acheived success has been obtained, so they dont get upset over hypothetical abilities of Panthers roster in 2023 and 2024 with Marchment having been kept.
Like how no one cares how many picks Tampa blew early on in their rebuild (Connolly - 6OA, Koekoek - 11th OA i think, Drouin - 3OA, Foote -.14th or 15th OA). As long as you have tangible ultimate success, the what-ifs are not as discussed due to winning the ultimate prize of a cup with the roster you chose.
Leafs had they won a cup, no one gives a cup about Marchment being gone.
Panthers have a bad contract in Knight but no one calls them out on it b/c Bob clutched up and got the job done and his bad deal/move hasnt stopped the panthers from still being strong contenders