Dubas Kicks Himself for Trading Mason Marchment
It’s not often you hear a general manager openly second-guess himself, but Kyle Dubas has never really been wired like most. Speaking recently, Dubas admitted the one move from his time with the Toronto Maple Leafs that still sticks with him: trading Mason Marchment to the Florida Panthers.
The Maple Leafs developed Marchment.
And it clearly still bothers him that he moved Marchment. Dubas didn’t just acquire Marchment; he invested in him and watched him grow. From an ECHL stint in Orlando to development camp projects to grinding his way into an NHL debut, Marchment was one of those players the organization built from the ground up. Those are the ones that tend to linger.
At the time, the deal looked like a small, logical move. In February 2020, Toronto sent Marchment to Florida in exchange for Denis Malgin, a more skill-focused forward who seemed to better fit what Toronto needed at the time. The team was chasing offence, juggling injuries, and trying to stay competitive.
But in hindsight, logic isn’t always the right answer.
Within a year, Marchment had a breakout season with the Panthers.
Marchment didn’t immediately explode in Florida, which probably helped the trade fade into the background at first. But a year later, he broke out in a big way, putting up 18 goals and 47 points in just 54 games and establishing himself as one of those hard-to-find middle-six forwards — productive, physical, irritating to play against, and able to get to the net.
In other words, he became exactly the type of player the Maple Leafs have spent years trying to add.
That’s the part Dubas keeps coming back to. Not just that Marchment became a good player, but that he became the kind of player Toronto consistently lacked during his tenure — someone who could complement skill with edge, someone who didn’t need much to make an impact.
The Marchment trade is a cautionary tale about moving players you've developed.
Dubas’ experience is a reminder that team-building isn’t just about identifying talent. It’s also about understanding fit, timing, and patience. Marchment was 24 at the time of the trade, still figuring things out, still a bit rough around the edges. The Maple Leafs, like many contending teams, didn’t feel they had the luxury to wait.
Looking back, that’s the decision Dubas seems to question most. And it’s a familiar story in hockey. The player you develop is often the hardest one to give up on — especially when he turns into exactly what you needed all along.
Marchment is heading toward free agency. Where will he land?
Now, with Marchment heading toward free agency after a season with the Columbus Blue Jackets, there’s a bit of irony hanging in the air. Because sometimes, the move you regret most is also the one you spend years quietly trying to undo. Is there a chance that Dubas tries to undo the deal he made a few seasons ago?