George Richards, FHN Publisher
It’s hard to believe, but just about a year ago, Mason Marchment was not a key player with the Florida Panthers but sort of a role guy making the most of his opportunity.
It was March 4, 2021, when Marchment got his first NHL goal in his fifth game with the Panthers after spending a lot of time either as a healthy scratch or on the taxi squad.
What a year it has been for Marchment.
He ended last season with two goals in 33 games — a number he matched in six postseason games against the Lightning.
Marchment came into this season with a lot more confidence not only in his own game, but in how the Panthers looked at him.
It has paid off handsomely for both.
Marchment, 26, has played his way into a counted on member of a very productive third line. With 15 goals and 40 points in 48 games, Marchment may have priced himself out of Florida when he becomes a free agent following this season.
As much as the Panthers would love to keep him around, salary cap concerns moving forward — and the kind of contract Marchment is likely to get — probably will prevent his return.
FHN SPECIAL — Use code 1000 at checkout for 25 percent off an annual subscription today!
This is what you call the good part of the game.
Marchment, who came to the Panthers in a very under-the-radar trade with the Leafs in 2020, is going to get paid. Good for him.
And, good for the Panthers as he has become a big part of the lineup and a very trusted player Andrew Brunette can use throughout the lineup. But they’re going to keep him right where he is, on the left side of Anton Lundell and Sam Reinhart.
You don’t mess with what works.
“What impresses me is his tenacity on the puck, his puck strength and how slippery and elusive he is,” Brunette said of Marchment.
“With his foot speed, he doesn’t look the prettiest, but he is deceptive. He is slippery. I think he has really worked hard on his game the last year. We weren’t really sure what we were getting. I saw him in the American League and liked him there but didn’t know (about) this level.
”He is so confident and believed he could play. He took the opportunity and ran with it. It’s a real great story to see. He has had a tremendous year.”
Last year, Marchment made Florida’s taxi squad out of training camp but only played in one game on Feb. 7 in Detroit, getting limited minutes before being returned to what then-coach Joel Quenneville called ‘The Squad.’
It took a while for him to get back in, but when he did return to the lineup against Dallas on Feb. 25, he was so noticible with his hits and defensive play, he made it real hard for the Panthers to take him out again.
And, aside from injury, he has been a stalwart of the Florida lineup ever since.
”When the staff believes in you and put you in a spot where they think you can succeed … I came into this year trying to be that same player,” said Marchment, who was honored by the NHL as one of its Three Stars of the Week after he tied a franchise record with six points in Florida’s win at Columbus on Jan. 31.
“I tried to get back on the top line, kept pushing and playing hard. Having confidence in yourself is definitely huge.”
Marchment missed a big chunk of the season when he sustained a lower-body injury on Nov. 8 in a loss to the New York Rangers.
He was out of the lineup for almost two months, returning on Dec. 29 when those same Rangers came to town.
Marchment had a point in each of his next three games, but that return was short-lived as he was placed on the Covid-19 list on Jan. 3 and did not return until two weeks later.
Again, the points came pretty easily as he got an assist in his first game back; he ended January (despite missing most of it) with seven goals and 14 points.
After scoring four goals with 10 points in March, things have slowed a bit for Marchment as he only has two points in April — and has not scored in his past seven games.
But his attitude is right and his line continues to produce.
The points, one has to believe, are going to start coming again.
“Everyone does a great job around here helping you out,” he said. “A lot of it is mental. You have to be ready to play mentally and know you can do it, just go out there and do it.”