Steven Lorentz (born April 13, 1996) is a Canadian professional ice hockey 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.

Steven Lorentz
2019 Calder Cup Finals - Game 1 - Chicago Wolves at Charlotte Checkers - June 1, 2019 - Steven Lorentz and Jake Bischoff (48038928278).jpg
Lorentz with the Charlotte Checkers in 2019
Born (1996-04-13) April 13, 1996 (age 28)
Kitchener, Ontario, Canada
Height 6 ft 4 in (193 cm)
Weight 216 lb (98 kg; 15 st 6 lb)
Position Centre
Shoots Left
NHL team
Former teams
Toronto Maple Leafs
Carolina Hurricanes
San Jose Sharks
Florida Panthers
NHL draft 186th overall, 2015
Carolina Hurricanes
Playing career 2017–present

Early life

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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]

Playing career

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Junior

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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.[4]

Professional

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Carolina Hurricanes

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On June 27, 2015, the Carolina Hurricanes selected Lorentz in the seventh round, 186th overall in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft.[5]

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.[6]

Lorentz was one of those 31 players[7] for the Hurricanes invited to the "bubble" as part of the 2020 Stanley Cup playoffs, but he did not play.[8]

On October 15, 2020, the Hurricanes signed Lorentz to a two-year, two-way contract.[9] In the pandemic delayed 2020–21 season, Lorentz made his NHL debut on January 28, 2021, in a game against the Tampa Bay Lightning.[10] He subsequently recorded his first point on January 30 with an assist against the Dallas Stars.[11] Lorentz scored his first career NHL goal on March 2, 2021, in a game against the Nashville Predators.[12]

San Jose Sharks

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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.[13] On July 22, the Sharks signed Lorentz to a two-year contract extension.[14]

Florida Panthers

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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.[15]

Toronto Maple Leafs

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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 2024–25 season on a professional tryout. Following training camp, Lorentz signed a one-year contract with the Maple Leafs on October 7, 2024.[16]

Playing style

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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."[17]

Career statistics

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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
NHL totals 230 21 22 43 42 32 2 4 6 21

Awards and honours

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Award Year Ref
NHL
Stanley Cup champion 2024

References

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  1. ^ "Steven Lorentz Stats and News". National Hockey League. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
  2. ^ Civian, Sara (January 28, 2021). "Welcome to the NHL, Steven Lorentz: 'You root for guys like that'". The Athletic. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
  3. ^ Ohari, Alex (February 16, 2021). "Hurricanes' Steven Lorentz: The Evolution of a Longshot Prospect". The Hockey Writers. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
  4. ^ 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.
  5. ^ "Carolina Hurricanes Select Steve Lorentz 186th Overall in NHL Entry Draft". Our Sports Central. June 27, 2015. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
  6. ^ Williams, Terrell (April 21, 2017). "Canes Agree to Terms With Steven Lorentz". National Hockey League. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
  7. ^ 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.
  8. ^ 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.
  9. ^ Canes PR (October 15, 2020). "Canes Ink Steven Lorentz to Two-Year Contract". National Hockey League. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
  10. ^ Beard, Aaron (January 28, 2021). "Necas lifts returning Hurricanes past Lighting 1–0 in OT". Minneapolis Star Tribune. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
  11. ^ "NHL roundup". The Day. Associated Press. January 30, 2021. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
  12. ^ 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.
  13. ^ "Burns traded to Hurricanes by Sharks". National Hockey League. July 13, 2022. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
  14. ^ "Sharks Sign Forward Steven Lorentz". National Hockey League. San Jose Sharks. July 22, 2022. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
  15. ^ "Sharks Acquire Forward Anthony Duclair from Florida". NHL.com. San Jose Sharks. July 1, 2023. Retrieved July 1, 2023.
  16. ^ "Pacioretty signs 1-year, $873,770 contract with Maple Leafs". nhl.com. October 7, 2024. Retrieved October 7, 2024.
  17. ^ Smith, Michael (June 27, 2015). "Day Two: Pick by Pick". National Hockey League. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
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