Maple Leafs Forward Steven Lorentz Turning Heads in Toronto, Accomplishing Absurd Feat
Photo credit: Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images
For Toronto Maple Leafs forward Steven Lorentz, the 2024-25 season has been full of surprises, but his latest accomplishment takes the cake.
Originally invited to Maple Leafs training camp on a PTO, there were no guarantees for the 28-year-old from Kitchener, Ontario -- even coming off of a Stanley Cup victory with the Florida Panthers last season.
Now, fast forwarding to the midway point of the 2024-25 season, it's hard to imagine the Leafs' bottom six without the 6'4" 216-pound wrecking ball.
Lorentz is one of several Maple Leafs who became eligible to sign a contract extension as of January 1st, and there are a lot of fans who would like to see the veteran forward stick around awhile longer, thanks to his incredible work ethic and effective play in his first season under Craig Berube.
Lorentz is still very much within reach of a career year in points, currently sitting at 9 points through 43 games. His career best 10 goals and 19 points in 80 games came during his time with the San Jose Sharks in 2022-23. He also happened to be a -18 that season.
In Toronto, however, Lorentz seems to have carved himself out a nice role, playing in the bottom six, at times on the third line, and also being a fixture on a solid Leafs penalty kill. So far this season, Lorentz is a +3.
None of these stats are impressive by your traditional standards, so let me toss one out there for you that is quite staggering.
He has played 43 games so far this season and has yet to receive a single penalty, despite currently leading all Maple Leafs forwards in hits with 114. Only Simon Benoit (116) has landed more hits on the season for the Leafs.
So, why has Lorentz had such great success staying out of the box? He does his best to keep the play in front of him, rather than chasing it and being forced to reach in on guys. He also understands that he has more value to his team on the ice than in the penalty box.
"I pride myself in being on the right side of pucks and little things in battles where you're not going to get caught out of position and exposed.
It's part of my game to go finish checks, definitely. Not necessarily run around but get in the forecheck and get that first guy - take him out of the play, so our next few guys can come in and keep the forecheck going.
I don't really like sitting in the box; at the end of the day, you are hurting your team. There are good penalties to take, definitely - when you're standing up for a teammate, or you gotta save a goal.
But I've never really been one to be in the penalty box, wasting my time when I could be on any ice contributing," said Lorentz.
It's part of my game to go finish checks, definitely. Not necessarily run around but get in the forecheck and get that first guy - take him out of the play, so our next few guys can come in and keep the forecheck going.
I don't really like sitting in the box; at the end of the day, you are hurting your team. There are good penalties to take, definitely - when you're standing up for a teammate, or you gotta save a goal.
But I've never really been one to be in the penalty box, wasting my time when I could be on any ice contributing," said Lorentz.
I can't recall the last time that one of a team's hitting leaders won the Lady Byny Trophy, awarded to the league's most sportsmanlike player, but Lorentz is currently a frontrunner for the award, which is absurd when you stop and think about it.
On pace for more than 200 hits, and in the running for the Lady Byng. How about that?
| POLL | ||
JANVIER 11 | 1740 ANSWERS Maple Leafs Forward Steven Lorentz Turning Heads in Toronto, Accomplishing Absurd Feat Will Steven Lorentz end up winning the Lady Byng Trophy this season? | ||
| Yes, and it's going to be hilarious | 565 | 32.5 % |
| No, he is way too physical | 1175 | 67.5 % |
| List of polls | ||
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