The Toronto Maple Leafs made an under-the-radar move by signing former Florida Panthers center Steven Lorentz to a Professional Tryout (PTO), as reported by Sportsnet. While Lorentz isn’t the type of player to grab headlines, this signing raises an important question: Why would the Leafs take a chance on a fourth-liner like Lorentz?
The answer lies in the Leafs’ delicate salary cap situation. With the cap ceiling in sight, cheap contracts have become essential to rounding out the roster. However, the Leafs boast a promising prospect pipeline, so why take a chance on Lorentz instead of leaning on young talent?
The answer can be found within the bottom six, particularly with David Kämpf, whose $2.4 million cap hit is beginning to feel steep for a fourth-line center with limited offensive upside. Kämpf, a solid defensive forward, is known for shutting down opponents, but he’s far from a scoring threat. With the second year of his four-year deal looming, it’s clear the Leafs are paying a premium for defense at the expense of scoring.
This is where Lorentz comes into the picture. Though unspectacular, Lorentz could offer a similar defensive value to Kämpf at a much cheaper price. If he impresses during camp and earns a contract, Lorentz could sign a league-minimum deal that fits comfortably under the cap. If not, he could still provide value in the AHL with the Marlies.
Last season, Lorentz played a depth role for the Panthers, appearing in 38 regular-season games and recording three points. He added another three points in 16 playoff games during Florida’s surprise run to the Stanley Cup Final. Comparatively, Kämpf registered 19 points in 78 games with the Leafs last season. Lorentz’s numbers suggest he could replicate Kämpf’s production for a fraction of the cost, making him a budget-friendly alternative.
There’s also the possibility of keeping both Kämpf and Lorentz, especially if the Leafs envision Kämpf playing a third-line role. But with Kämpf’s offensive limitations and the team’s perennial struggles with depth scoring in the playoffs, this would seem to go against the strategy needed for a deep postseason run.
However, the Leafs’ need for depth at center makes Lorentz’s signing intriguing. Beyond Auston Matthews and John Tavares, the Leafs’ center depth is questionable. Max Domi hasn’t proven to be a reliable third-line center, and while there’s hope for young prospects like Easton Cowan and Fraser Minten, they may not be ready for full-time NHL duty just yet. This makes Lorentz a potential insurance policy and an affordable option should injuries arise or prospects need more time to develop.
In the end, signing Lorentz on a PTO isn’t a flashy move, but it’s a practical one for a team navigating the tight constraints of the salary cap. In a worst-case scenario, Lorentz provides depth. In a best-case scenario, he becomes a key budget-friendly piece of the Leafs’ puzzle as they gear up for another playoff push.
As the saying goes in hockey, you can never have too much center depth.
