Kyle Dubas, now the president of hockey operations and general manager for the Pittsburgh Penguins, recently reflected on his time as the Toronto Maple Leafs' GM, pinpointing his biggest regret. In a recent appearance on the "Cam & Strick Podcast," Dubas stated that trading Mason Marchment to the Florida Panthers for Denis Malgin in February 2020 is the decision that "eats away" at him the most. However, to label this trade as his biggest blunder overlooks other significant decisions during his tenure that had a far greater impact on the Leafs' trajectory.

While Dubas acknowledges the missed potential of Marchment, who has since developed into a valuable NHL player, other moves arguably hindered the Leafs' chances of success to a greater degree. Marchment had only played four NHL games at the time of the trade, after spending years within the Toronto system. Dubas was looking for some scoring and acquired Malgin, who had some NHL experience. Malgin ultimately didn't pan out for the Leafs, scoring only two goals in 31 games before being traded. Meanwhile, Marchment blossomed with the Panthers and later the Dallas Stars, becoming a consistent offensive threat. He now plays for the Seattle Kraken.

However, suggesting that the Marchment trade was Dubas' biggest error ignores other key moments and decisions that shaped his time in Toronto. One such decision was allowing Zach Hyman to leave in free agency. Contract talks broke down, reportedly due to Dubas' reluctance to grant Hyman trade protection, leading Hyman to sign with the Edmonton Oilers. Hyman has since become a premier scorer, consistently notching 27+ goal seasons, including a 54-goal campaign in 2023-24. His contributions to the Oilers' playoff success further highlight the loss for the Leafs.

Another point of contention lies in Dubas' approach to contract negotiations with the "core four" players: Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, William Nylander and John Tavares. While he successfully signed these players, the contracts, particularly Tavares' lucrative deal, contributed to the team's salary cap struggles. Some argue that Dubas overpaid to retain these stars, limiting the team's flexibility to address other needs and build a more well-rounded roster. Dubas himself admitted that not taking care of Nylander, Marner and Matthews' contracts sooner was a mistake.

Furthermore, Dubas' reluctance to make significant changes to the core four, despite repeated playoff failures, is a subject of criticism. The team's inability to advance deep into the playoffs despite possessing elite talent suggests a need for a different approach, whether through strategic trades or adjustments to the team's composition.

While the Marchment trade undoubtedly stings in hindsight, it's a relatively minor misstep compared to the broader strategic decisions that defined Dubas' tenure. The failure to retain Hyman, the management of star player contracts, and the reluctance to shake up the core arguably had a more profound impact on the Leafs' inability to achieve their ultimate goal.

Dubas' reflection on the Marchment trade offers valuable insight into his growth as a GM. It highlights the importance of player development and recognizing potential beyond immediate performance. However, it shouldn't overshadow the other critical decisions that ultimately shaped his legacy in Toronto.