Penguins? Losing a blessing?   You're dam right losing was a blessing for the Penguins - Losing (on purpose mind you) was how they got Lemieux, Jagr, Crosby and Malkin....They went totally broke---twice! And Lemieux the first time, then Crosby years later saved the franchise from going under....Without those players, there are no Stanley Cups. Without those cups, the Penguins are gone like the Prairie Buffalo. 

Toronto has withstood years of losing and yet  hey still have the most fans in the NHL and the most loyal fans in pro sports - It isn't close. Every Canadian city has thousands of Leaf fans in it. Losing this series was a minor setback....Short term pain and long term gain....(Very long term from what we can see)