Former San Jose Sharks center Steven Lorentz has signed a PTO with the Toronto Maple Leafs to extend his career.
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The 28-year-old is coming off a Stanley Cup championship with the Flordia Panthers, and despite being a solid fourth-line forward, Lorentz was not signed to a standard contract.
It can be hard to find a standard NHL contract for a defense-first player with little offensive upside. Lorentz’s size, 6’4″, 216 lbs, is an attractive attribute for a playoff-contending team like the Leafs.
The Maple Leafs’ top two centers are Auston Matthews and John Tavares, but Max Domi and David Kampf are the bottom two centers, as listed on Daily Faceoff. Lorentz is a proven penalty killer, and despite severely limited ice time in the postseason, the forward showed an ability to make an impact.
The PTO route allows Lorentz to prove his worth to a team that looks to exercise some playoff demons and get past the first two rounds.
Lorentz spent one season with the San Jose Sharks but made a lasting impact on a particular fan.
Related: Larger Than Hockey: Steven Lorentz and Kaley So
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