Panthers center join the Maple Leafs on a professional tryout, according to Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet.
At 28 years old, he remains unsigned more than two months into free agency after contributing as a depth player in the Panthers’ Stanley Cup victory last June. He appeared in 16 of their 24 playoff games, scoring twice and adding an assist, while averaging just 7:07 of ice time per game.
During the regular season, the Ontario native had a more limited role, often being a healthy scratch. He had minimal impact, recording only one goal and two assists in 38 games, with occasional appearances on the penalty kill.
Lorentz spent just one season with the Panthers, having been acquired from the Sharks in a trade that sent winger Anthony Duclair to San Jose last summer. Before that, he was on a two-year, $2.1 million contract with the Sharks, which he signed in 2022 after being traded from the Hurricanes in the Brent Burns deal. This could potentially make Toronto his fourth team in as many years.
The 6’4″, 205-pound forward aims to demonstrate his value in a depth role during the Leafs’ training camp, with hopes of securing a contract—likely a league-minimum one-way deal. He hasn’t played in the minors since before the COVID-19 pandemic, having spent time with Carolina’s AHL affiliate in Charlotte from 2017 to 2020.
The Leafs are working with limited salary cap space but have room for a potential league-minimum addition like Lorentz. According to PuckPedia, they currently have $1.275 million in projected cap space with two open roster spots.
Over the past four seasons, Lorentz has appeared in 230 NHL games, recording 21 goals, 22 assists, and 43 points, along with a -26 rating. He averages 10:47 of ice time per game and has a solid 48.7% faceoff win rate from nearly 1,100 draws. Lorentz will vie for a roster spot against veteran depth players like Alex Steeves, as well as prospects such as Easton Cowan and Fraser Minten.
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