After a season that saw him lift the Stanley Cup as a member of the Florida Panthers, Steven Lorentz should be happy as he signs a new contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs. The deal is for the 2024-25 season and sees him earn $775K.
One-year deals in Toronto:
Max Pacioretty comes in at $873,770
Steven Lorentz at $775KPacioretty also has games-played bonuses which could reach $600K. Those would count against next year’s cap
Toronto squeezing to maximize its space
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) October 7, 2024
Steven Lorentz Signs New Contract
Steven Lorentz has certainly worked his way up from where he was to where he is now. While maybe not a top line player, Lorentz has exceeded most expectations. Now with his name on the Stanley Cup, he will keep it going.
The Carolina Hurricanes drafted Lorentz in seventh round of the 2015 NHL Entry Draft. After playing a few more seasons in juniors, he made the jump to the professional level and started in the ECHL with a few AHL games. The following season he split time fairly evenly between the AHL and ECHL and then continued this progression with a more full time role with the Charlotte Checkers of the AHL the next year. He helped the Checkers win the Calder Cup in 2019. After the Covid shortened season, he found himself ready for more of an NHL role. After two season with the Hurricanes, he was sent to the San Jose Sharks as part of the Brent Burns trade. The next year he was sent to the Florida Panthers as part of the Anthony Duclair trade.
Even though Lorentz’s stats won’t jump off the page, he can provide solid depth. His best season came with the Sharks when he put up ten goals and nine assists in 80 games. This past year with Florida he scored one goal and two assists in 38 regular season games. Meanwhile, in the playoffs this year he scored two goals and one assist in 16 games. Amazingly, from longshot NHLer through the ECHL and AHL, Lorentz found his way to a Stanley Cup.
What This Means for Toronto
As shown above, Lorentz embodies the definition of persistence. He plays every game with a smile on his face and a sense of gratitude for where he is. At 6′ 4″ and 216 lbs., Lorentz can play a bottom line role and work hard on the forecheck. Off the ice, he can be a positive presence in the locker room. He may not lead the team in offensive metrics, but can be an important role player. Lorentz is certainly a guy you like to root for so it’s good to see him sign another contract.
Main Photo Credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports
