Steven Lorentz has turned his tryout contract into what might be one of the Maple Leafs’ smartest bargain signings of the year.
The 27-year-old forward, who joined Toronto on a basic one-year, $875,000 deal after impressing in preseason, has become such a valuable piece that the team is already thinking about keeping him around longer.
His stats won’t blow anyone away – just 5 points in 34 games. But that’s not why the Leafs love him.
Lorentz has been a human wrecking ball, throwing 87 hits and blocking 26 shots already this season. He’s exactly the kind of player that makes opponents hate playing against Toronto.
“He’s relentless out there,” one teammate said. “Just never stops coming at you.”
Alongside Connor Dewar, he’s formed one of the team’s most effective shutdown duos in recent weeks. That’s pretty impressive for a guy who came in just hoping to make the roster.
He brings something else valuable too – championship experience. Lorentz won the Stanley Cup with Florida last year, one of three current Leafs (with Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Anthony Stolarz) who made the journey north from the Panthers.
Over his five NHL seasons with Carolina, San Jose, Florida and now Toronto, he’s put up modest numbers – 24 goals and 24 assists. But it’s his consistency that stands out: averaging over 120 hits per season and winning nearly half his faceoffs.
The best part for the Leafs? He’s incredibly affordable. Given his current salary, a two or three-year extension around $1 million per season would be a bargain for what he brings.
It’s turning out to be one of GM Brad Treliving’s smartest moves – finding a hard-working, championship-tested player who fits perfectly into coach Craig Berube’s system.
And now it looks like Lorentz might be calling Toronto home for quite a bit longer.
