| Birth date | April 13, 1996 (age 30) |
|---|---|
| Birth place | Kitchener, Ontario, Canada |
| Height | 6 ft |
| Height in | 6 |
| Weight lb | 255 |
| Position | Centre |
| Shoots | Left |
| League | NHL |
| Team | Toronto Maple Leafs |
| Former teams | Carolina Hurricanes San Jose Sharks Florida Panthers |
| Draft (2015) | 186th overall |
| Draft team | Carolina Hurricanes |
| Career start | 2017 |
Steven Lorentz (born April 13, 1996) is a Canadian professional ice hockey player who is a centre for the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League (NHL). The Carolina Hurricanes selected him in the seventh round, 186th overall, at the 2015 NHL entry draft. Lorentz won the Stanley Cup with the Florida Panthers in 2024.
Early life
Lorentz was born on April 13, 1996, in Kitchener, Ontario.[1] He was the only son of Mark and Karon Lorentz, he attended St. Nicholas Catholic Elementary School and was raised with his sisters in nearby Waterloo, Ontario.[2] He began ice skating at the age of two, and started playing organized minor ice hockey three years later. Although players his age were usually divided randomly among the four local teams, the coaches held a "draft lottery" for the skilled Lorentz.[3]
Growing up, Lorentz was a fan of the Toronto Maple Leafs.[4] His childhood bedroom was modeled after the team, including a Maple Leafs score clock for his light and several posters, and his favourite player was Mats Sundin.[5] In 2024, after signing with Toronto, Lorentz went viral within the hockey community when he posted his childhood yearbook from 15 years ago, where he claimed that in 15 years he would be playing in the NHL for the Maple Leafs.[6]
Although many fans, commentators and media personality pronounce Lorentz's last name in the literal sense, often saying 'Lo-rentz', Lorentz's name is pronounced Lawrence.[7]
Playing career
Junior
After leading the Waterloo Wolves AAA club in scoring, Lorentz was chosen by the Peterborough Petes in the 12th round, 226th overall, in the 2012 Ontario Hockey League Priority Selection.[8]
Professional
Carolina Hurricanes
On June 27, 2015, the Carolina Hurricanes selected Lorentz in the seventh round, 186th overall in the 2015 NHL entry draft.[9]
Following his fourth completed junior OHL season with the Peterborough Petes, the Hurricanes signed Lorentz on a three-year, entry-level contract on April 21, 2017.[10]
Lorentz was one of those 31 players[11] for the Hurricanes invited to the "bubble" as part of the 2020 Stanley Cup playoffs, but he did not play.[12]
On October 15, 2020, the Hurricanes signed Lorentz to a two-year, two-way contract.[13] In the pandemic delayed 2020–21 season, Lorentz made his NHL debut on January 28, 2021, in a game against the Tampa Bay Lightning.[14] He subsequently recorded his first point on January 30 with an assist against the Dallas Stars.[15] Lorentz scored his first career NHL goal on March 2, 2021, in a game against the Nashville Predators.[16]
San Jose Sharks
On July 13, 2022, the Hurricanes traded Lorentz, goaltender Eetu Makiniemi and a conditional third-round selection in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft to the San Jose Sharks in exchange for Brent Burns and Lane Pederson.[17] On July 22, the Sharks signed Lorentz to a two-year contract extension.[18]
Florida Panthers
After a solitary season with the Sharks, on July 1, 2023, Lorentz was traded by the Sharks, along with a fifth-round selection in 2025, to the Florida Panthers in exchange for Anthony Duclair.[19]
Toronto Maple Leafs
Following his Stanley Cup success with the Panthers, Lorentz left as a free agent at the conclusion of his contract and was un-signed over the summer. On September 5, 2024, Lorentz accepted an invitation to attend the Toronto Maple Leafs training camp for the season on a professional tryout. Following training camp, Lorentz signed a one-year contract with the Maple Leafs on October 7, 2024.[20]
Starting the season on the Maple Leafs roster, Lorentz would score his first goal of the season in the team's second game, a 4–2 win over the New Jersey Devils on October 10.[21]
Playing style
Carolina Hurricanes Director of Amateur Scouting Tony MacDonald said of Lorentz in 2015, "He's a good two-way player who plays well with and without the puck."[22]
Career statistics
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 2013–14 | Peterborough Petes | OHL | 64 | 7 | 11 | 18 | 18 | 11 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | ||
| 2014–15 | Peterborough Petes | OHL | 59 | 16 | 21 | 37 | 15 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | ||
| 2015–16 | Peterborough Petes | OHL | 58 | 23 | 25 | 48 | 27 | 7 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 0 | ||
| 2016–17 | Peterborough Petes | OHL | 66 | 29 | 32 | 61 | 37 | 12 | 9 | 7 | 16 | 0 | ||
| 2017–18 | Florida Everblades | ECHL | 62 | 12 | 23 | 35 | 34 | 19 | 5 | 5 | 10 | 12 | ||
| 2017–18 | Charlotte Checkers | AHL | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2018–19 | Florida Everblades | ECHL | 22 | 10 | 18 | 28 | 11 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2018–19 | Charlotte Checkers | AHL | 29 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 23 | 12 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 2 | ||
| 2019–20 | Charlotte Checkers | AHL | 61 | 23 | 23 | 46 | 37 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2020–21 | Carolina Hurricanes | NHL | 45 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 11 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 4 | ||
| 2021–22 | Carolina Hurricanes | NHL | 67 | 8 | 5 | 13 | 8 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 | ||
| 2022–23 | San Jose Sharks | NHL | 80 | 10 | 9 | 19 | 16 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2023–24 | Florida Panthers | NHL | 38 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 10 | 16 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 | ||
| 2024–25 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 80 | 8 | 11 | 19 | 9 | 13 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | ||
| NHL totals | 310 | 29 | 33 | 62 | 51 | 45 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 25 | ||||
Awards and honours
| Award | Year | Ref | |
|---|---|---|---|
| AHL | |||
| Calder Cup champion | 2019 | ||
| NHL | |||
| Stanley Cup champion | 2024 | ||
References
- ^ "Steven Lorentz Stats and News". National Hockey League. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
- ^ Civian, Sara (January 28, 2021). "Welcome to the NHL, Steven Lorentz: 'You root for guys like that'". The Athletic. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
- ^ Ohari, Alex (February 16, 2021). "Hurricanes' Steven Lorentz: The Evolution of a Longshot Prospect". The Hockey Writers. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
- ^ Hussein, Ilyas (October 28, 2024). "How a childhood dream of playing for the Maple Leafs came true for Steven Lorentz: ‘It’s surreal’". Toronto Star. Torstar. Retrieved January 19, 2025.
- ^ Seigel, Jonas (October 16, 2024). "Steven Lorentz is living his childhood dream with the Maple Leafs". The Athletic. New York Times. Retrieved January 19, 2025.
- ^ Doerfler, Evan (October 19, 2024). "‘That Was Definitely The Goal My Whole Life’: Steven Lorentz Speaks On Viral Yearbook Picture, Playing For Hometown Maple Leafs". The Hockey News. Roustan Media. Retrieved January 19, 2025.
- ^ Kloke, Joshua (October 4, 2024). "Meet Steven Lorentz: The unknown Maple Leaf who wants to make fans remember his name". The Athletic. New York Times. Retrieved January 19, 2025.
- ^ Bryson, Mark (January 27, 2021). "Former Peterborough Pete Steven Lorentz expected to make NHL debut with Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday". The Peterborough Examiner. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
- ^ "Carolina Hurricanes Select Steve Lorentz 186th Overall in NHL Entry Draft". Our Sports Central. June 27, 2015. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
- ^ Williams, Terrell (April 21, 2017). "Canes Agree to Terms With Steven Lorentz". National Hockey League. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
- ^ Gatto, Tom (August 14, 2020). "NHL bubble, explained: A guide to the hub city rules, teams & schedule for Edmonton, Toronto". Sporting News. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
- ^ Steele-Davis, Andrew (January 29, 2021). "Inside The Box: Steven Lorentz is the feel-good story we all needed". Puck Prose. Fansided. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
- ^ Canes PR (October 15, 2020). "Canes Ink Steven Lorentz to Two-Year Contract". National Hockey League. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
- ^ Beard, Aaron (January 28, 2021). "Necas lifts returning Hurricanes past Lighting 1–0 in OT". Minneapolis Star Tribune. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
- ^ "NHL roundup". The Day. Associated Press. January 30, 2021. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
- ^ Prunka, Michael (March 2, 2021). "Lorentz's 1st NHL goal is difference as 'Canes end road trip with win over Predators". CBS 17. Retrieved March 3, 2021.
- ^ "Burns traded to Hurricanes by Sharks". National Hockey League. July 13, 2022. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
- ^ "Sharks Sign Forward Steven Lorentz". National Hockey League. San Jose Sharks. July 22, 2022. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
- ^ "Sharks Acquire Forward Anthony Duclair from Florida". NHL.com. San Jose Sharks. July 1, 2023. Retrieved July 1, 2023.
- ^ "Pacioretty signs 1-year, $873,770 contract with Maple Leafs". nhl.com. October 7, 2024. Retrieved October 7, 2024.
- ^ McGran, Kevin (October 10, 2024). "The first-timers lead the Maple Leafs to their first win of the NHL season". Toronto Star. Torstar. Retrieved January 19, 2025.
- ^ Smith, Michael (June 27, 2015). "Day Two: Pick by Pick". National Hockey League. Retrieved January 31, 2021.