Tuesday brought some raw emotions as Jonathan Huberdeau opened up about his mixed feelings on the Florida Panthers winning the Stanley Cup. Huberdeau, who spent a decade with the Panthers before being traded to the Calgary Flames with MacKenzie Weegar for Matthew Tkachuk in 2022, shared how tough it was to see his former teammates hoist the Cup after enduring so many tough times together. <q> It's hard to see the guys lift the Cup. I was there for 10 years, during difficult times, and that's how you build a team. When you're young, you just want to build. Now, I find myself in this situation, but a little older. </q> <q> Sounds like Jonathan Huberdeau has spoken publicly for the first time since the Florida Panthers won the Stanley Cup. «It's hard to see the guys lift the Cup» </q> <div align='center'><blockquote class='twitter-tweet' data-lang='en'><a href='https://twitter.com/david954fla/status/1810631312979415382'> </a></blockquote></div> Fans had plenty to say about his comments. One said to toughen up and blame himself for choosing money over team success referring to his long-term commitment with the Flames. <q> Man, stop crying. Don't chase the bag next time if you'd rather experience success. </q> <div align='center'><blockquote class='twitter-tweet' data-lang='en'><a href='https://twitter.com/mustardsports/status/1810691091512873109'> </a></blockquote></div> Yet Panthers nation, who admittedly miss their former star understand the pain he's going through. <q> No one forced him to sign a long-term $80 million+ deal in Calgary. He chose to retire a Flame. He could've walked in free agency a year after the trade. I can't blame him for taking the bag; the next generation won't have to lift a finger. I miss him though. </q> <div align='center'><blockquote class='twitter-tweet' data-lang='en'><a href='https://twitter.com/sherbaljustin/status/1810694250700636493'> </a></blockquote></div> Another compared this trade to the infamous Demar Derozan for Kawhi Leonard deal between the Toronto Raptors and San Antonio Spurs in the 2018 NBA offseason. The Raptors, on the verge of title status, traded their homegrown talent in Derozan to the Spurs for Leonard. Toronto won their maiden championship in 2019 with Leonard leading the way while Derozan watched helplessly from the couch stuck on a rebuilding Spurs team. <q> I feel for him, but a big reason they lifted the Cup is because they traded him away for Tkachuk. It's like the Raptors trading DeRozan for Kawhi. </q> Yet unlike Huberdau, Derozan waited his free agency turn and went to the Chicago Bulls before recently signing a deal with the Sacramento Kings which was made official today. <q> DeMar DeRozan shows off his new jersey as a member of the Sacramento Kings 🔥 How many games will the Kings win next season? 🤔 </q> <div align='center'><blockquote class='twitter-tweet' data-lang='en'><a href='https://twitter.com/clutchpoints/status/1810778455061217616'> </a></blockquote></div> The reactions to Huberdeau's comments are a mix of empathy and tough love. Ultimately, this is just another example of the sacrifices organizations en route to becoming champions and the Panthers were no different. It's unfortunate Huberdeau was on the short end of the stick.