In another move to increase the competition for the much-coveted forward spots on the Toronto Maple Leafs’ roster, recent Stanley Cup winner Steven Lorentz may be joining the team on a PTO.
Lorentz is the second player from the Florida Panthers 2023–24 roster to be making an appearance with the Leafs heading into the season. Goaltender Anthony Stolarz signed as a free agent earlier in the offseason.
Who is Steven Lorentz?
Lorentz is a 28-year-old forward from Kitchener, Ontario who spent time with the Peterborough Petes in his OHL days.
He was a seventh-round draft pick of the Carolina Hurricanes back in 2015.
After a few seasons bouncing around between the ECHL and AHL, he finally made his NHL debut with the Hurricanes in 2020–21. Lorentz had eight points in 45 games.
Lorentz has played with three teams in his four NHL seasons, also spending one year apiece with the San Jose Sharks and Florida Panthers. In his year with the Sharks, he had a career-high 18 points in 80 games.
Lorentz has a reputation as a winner, having been a part of the Calder Cup-winning Charlotte Checkers in 2018–19 and last season’s Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers. This is a trait that will appeal to the Leafs organization.
Where would Steven Lorentz fit with the Toronto Maple Leafs?
It is noted that Lorentz would be joining on a PTO. He does not yet have a contract or a defined place in the lineup. He could very well just be joining to showcase himself for a contract anywhere heading into the season. Toronto would be a good, visible place to accomplish that.
However, a player like Lorentz would slot in on the bottom forward line in Toronto. Although he is a centre, it is not unreasonable to think he would slot over onto the wing as he seems to have done in Florida last season.
He will not be much of an offensive threat, but his size and strength will help Toronto’s lineup. He is a grinding forward who is not afraid to throw his weight around, as shown by averaging around two hits per game last season.
He will also be an option to kill penalties, he spent plenty of time on the penalty kill in his season with the Sharks.
He may not move the needle much if he does sign in Toronto, but his skill set can still amplify the bottom line and provide some improved depth.
