Steven Lorentz is headed to waivers as Jim Hiller and the Toronto Maple Leafs make an early roster decision with real consequences.
The 30-year-old forward is being placed on waivers Thursday afternoon, opening the door for every other NHL club to put in a claim.
Lorentz has spent the past two seasons with Toronto, producing 15 goals and 37 points across 151 games with the Maple Leafs.
His contract carries a $1,350,000 cap hit, making this more than a routine depth move as Toronto continues sorting out its roster before the season.
For Hiller, the decision immediately changes the competition in the bottom six. Toronto is choosing roster flexibility over keeping an experienced NHL forward locked into a spot.
-
Lorentz has built his role around size, forechecking pressure and dependable depth minutes rather than top-six production. That made him a useful piece, but also left his roster position exposed when Toronto started making cuts.
He was also Auston Matthews' linemate for majority of the time when Craig Berube was head coach.
"Remember when Craig Berube played him on a line with Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner?"
-
The move also gives rival clubs a chance to add an experienced forward without giving Toronto an asset in return.
Maple Leafs create another opening up front
If Lorentz clears, Toronto would have more freedom to move him off the NHL roster and reshape the final forward group around Hiller's preferred combinations.
That's where the move becomes interesting. Waivers don't simply affect one player; they can signal which younger forwards, new additions or bubble players have moved ahead in the internal race.
Hiller, hired as Toronto's head coach in June, is now putting his own stamp on the lineup before his first regular-season game behind the Maple Leafs bench.
Lorentz's experience won't make the decision any easier. He has already shown he can handle the pace and physical demands of an NHL bottom-six role while giving coaches lineup flexibility.
But Toronto has now made its choice clear enough to expose him to the rest of the league.
The next question comes quickly: does Lorentz clear waivers and remain in the organization, or does another club see an immediate opening for the veteran forward?
Will another NHL team claim Steven Lorentz off waivers?
Also read on Markerzone.com:
Huge Maple Leafs fight ends with huge one-punch knockdown
