{"id":452857,"date":"2024-10-07T15:52:46","date_gmt":"2024-10-07T19:52:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/?p=452857"},"modified":"2024-10-07T15:52:46","modified_gmt":"2024-10-07T19:52:46","slug":"what-trio-of-signings-by-toronto-maple-leafs-means","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2024\/10\/07\/what-trio-of-signings-by-toronto-maple-leafs-means\/","title":{"rendered":"What The Trio Of Signings By The Toronto Maple Leafs Means"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>On Monday morning, the <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2024\/09\/27\/2024-25-puck-drop-preview-toronto-maple-leafs\/\" target=\"_self\">Toronto Maple Leafs<\/a> made three signings. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/p\/pacioma01.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2024-10-07_hr\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Max Pacioretty<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/l\/lorenst01.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2024-10-07_hr\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Steven Lorentz<\/a> and <a  href=\"https:\/\/eliteprospects.com\/player\/285385\/cade-webber#google_vignette\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Cade Webber<\/a> are the newest names on the payroll. Both Pacioretty and Lorentz were involved in the Leafs training camp on a professional tryout (PTO). Webber was included in the signings from Monday morning and he shouldn&#8217;t be ignored. He&#8217;s been signed to a two-year, two-way deal.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">?\ufe0f We\u2019ve signed Max Pacioretty and Steven Lorentz to one-year contracts and Cade Webber to a two-year contract extension <a  href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/odzWckDngm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/odzWckDngm<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/MapleLeafs\/status\/1843295424062660657?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">October 7, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<h2>What do These Signings Mean Going Forward<\/h2>\n<p>Ahead of the <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2024\/09\/22\/takeaways-from-leafs-opening-preseason-game\/\" target=\"_self\">preseason<\/a>, there was the understanding that Pacioretty was going to sign with the Maple Leafs, regardless of how his training camp went. Sure enough, the signing became official a couple of days before the Maple Leafs season opener. In the four games he featured in for preseason, he scored two goals and five points\u2014a solid campaign from the 35-year-old. In Pacioretty&#8217;s contract, there are two chances at earning bonuses. He&#8217;ll earn himself a $313,115 bonus if he plays 10 games and again if he plays 35 games. Given his age, it&#8217;ll be a challenge for Pacioretty to become a regular in this team, but there is no doubt that he&#8217;s up for it.<\/p>\n<p>As for Lorentz, his situation was a little more different. The Stanley Cup champion was not guaranteed a spot on the Leafs roster to the extent the Pacioretty was. However, he earned a contract with his play over the last two weeks. Lorentz has shown to be a textbook fourth-liner. Although, a fourth-liner who is extremely effective and elite at that role. At 6-foot-4, Lorentz plays a heavy, but elegant game. In the <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2024\/10\/06\/toronto-maple-leafs-conclude-preseason-showcasing-potential-lineup\/\" target=\"_self\">final preseason game<\/a>, the 28-year-old opened the scoring for the Leafs and gave fans a flash of his brilliance.<\/p>\n<p>While Webber most likely won&#8217;t be in the Leafs lineup this season, at least not regularly, there is still something in this signing. He&#8217;s going into his final year of a two-year deal but was signed for an extra two. The <a  href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/reporterchris\/status\/1843296603890962691\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">first year of his new contract is two-way, but the next year is one-way<\/a>. That hints at the idea that the Leafs management thinks highly of him. So high to the point where they think he has a chance to make the NHL in the following season after this one.<\/p>\n<h3>LTIR and Retaining Cap<\/h3>\n<p>The Maple Leafs have many players on the roster. According to <a  href=\"https:\/\/puckpedia.com\/team\/toronto-maple-leafs\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">PuckPedia<\/a>, Toronto has 15 forwards and 10 defencemen on the current roster. Although, of those 25 players, there are four that are on the injury reserve list. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/j\/jarnkca01.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2024-10-07_hr\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Calle Jarnkrok<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/m\/mermida01.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2024-10-07_hr\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Dakota Mermis<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/h\/hakanja01.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2024-10-07_hr\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Jani Hakanpaa<\/a> are all on LTIR. In addition to that, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/d\/dewarco01.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2024-10-07_hr\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Connor Dewar<\/a> is on IR. Also, the Maple Leafs could place <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/m\/mintefr01.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2024-10-07_hr\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Fraser Minten<\/a> on season-opening IR, which will help retain cap for some time.<\/p>\n<p>The team also assigned <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.nhl.com\/mapleleafs\/player\/easton-cowan-8484158\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Easton Cowan<\/a> back to the OHL with the London Knights. <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2024\/07\/03\/toronto-maple-leafs-youngsters-that-could-appear-next-season\/\" target=\"_self\">Cowan<\/a> was selected in the first round of the <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.hockeydb.com\/ihdb\/draft\/nhl2023e.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">2023 NHL Draft<\/a> and featured in all but one <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2024\/09\/27\/couple-youngsters-on-display-toronto-maple-leafs-preseason\/\" target=\"_self\">preseason game<\/a>. The more exhibition games he played, the better he performed. However, there is too much depth in the Leafs forward group that there is no space for Cowan on the NHL roster. Unfortunately for him, he isn&#8217;t eligible to be sent down to the Marlies, which would be ideal for both the player and the team. At any rate, it&#8217;ll be one more season in London for Cowan.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Leafs are cap compliant by $1 with these moves after signing Pacioretty and Lorentz:<\/p>\n<p>\u2022 Send down Cowan<br \/>\n\u2022 SOIR Minten ($76,562 against the cap)<br \/>\n\u2022 IR Dewar<br \/>\n\u2022 LTIR Jarnkrok, Hakanpaa, Mermis<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Kyle Cushman (@Kyle_Cush) <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Kyle_Cush\/status\/1843299142606757956?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">October 7, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>It&#8217;s also worth noting something that doesn&#8217;t involve injuries. Lately, in the Leafs&#8217; practices, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/l\/liljeti01.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2024-10-07_hr\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Timothy Liljegren<\/a> has been looking from the outside of the lineup. He&#8217;s been positioned as the extra defenceman behind <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/t\/timmico01.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2024-10-07_hr\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Conor Timmins<\/a>. Liljegren holds $3M against the cap and if he continues to be a healthy scratch, it only <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2024\/07\/05\/nhl-rumours-toronto-maple-leafs-defender-could-still-be-dealt\/\" target=\"_self\">makes sense to trade him<\/a> and relieve some of that unused cap space.<\/p>\n<p>Main Photo Credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>On Monday morning, the Toronto Maple Leafs made three signings. Max Pacioretty, Steven Lorentz and Cade Webber are the newest names on the payroll. Both Pacioretty and Lorentz were involved in the Leafs training camp on a professional tryout (PTO). Webber was included in the signings from Monday morning and he shouldn&#8217;t be ignored. He&#8217;s [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5141,"featured_media":452881,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[18,4547,4548],"tags":[353,5754,4667,8027,5868],"class_list":["post-452857","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-leafs","category-hockey","category-nhl","tag-max-pacioretty","tag-nhl-signing","tag-salary-cap","tag-steven-lorentz","tag-toronto-maple-leafs-analysis"],"modified_by":"Andre Leal","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/452857","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5141"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=452857"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/452857\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/452881"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=452857"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=452857"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=452857"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}