Lorentz is hoping to make the Maple Leafs' roster after winning the Stanley Cup with the Florida Panthers last season.
Two day after winning his first Stanley Cup, Steven Lorentz was one of a bunch of Florida Panthers who got a tattoo to mark the occasion.
"A couple artists came over and did close to half the team. So I don't know if I've done it yet, I might color it in or something like that," Lorentz said. "But I got two legs for a reason, right? So hopefully we can get one on the other side here soon, too."
Lorentz returned to practice after missing the last couple of sessions with an upper-body injury, Signed to a professional tryout, the odds are stacked up against him.
"Yeah, it's good competition. It's maybe a little bit of extra motivation, but at the same time, my job's simple. Just come in here and try to earn a job," Lorentz said. " I don't have to go out and do anything flashy. I just got to play the game that's gotten me to this point so far."
Lorents played in 16 of the Panthers' playoff games to earn his first Stanley Cup ring. A depth forward, he was skating on a line with Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner during the club's non-game practice days. But that's mainly because Matthew Knies was slotted for game against against the Ottawa Senators later in the day at Canadian Tire Centre.
But if there is a role for Lorentz on the Maple Leafs, it may be on the penalty kill where several players have been in rotation.
"I take a lot of pride in being on the PK. No, I learned a lot last year. I might not have got a ton of ice time in Florida," Lorentz said. "Just looking at that depth chart, I got to learn from so many good players in front of me. So just because I wasn't on the ice doesn't mean I wasn't learning, and watching that penalty kill. And just all special teams in general, and in all situations, was a big learning curve for me and learning experience."
Depending on how things shake out with injuries and other roster players, Lorentz's chances of being in the opening night lineup are slim. But if he can carve out his game, he could be a useful depth piece for the Leafs, not unlike what he did in Florida.
But he's got to stay healthy, and with the likes of Max Pacioretty (who assuredly has a spot on this team despite being a PTO), Easton Cowan, Bobby McMann and Nick Robertson all competing for spots, Lorentz will need to get into some pre-season games to show his value.
