Maple Leafs notes: Rings are the thing for trio in return to Florida

Three Maple Leafs will officially cut the cord with the Panthers on Wednesday, but they’ll be getting Stanley Cup rings as a lasting memento.

Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Steven Lorentz and Anthony Stolarz were to get their reward at the morning skate when an official from the 2024 champions delivers the special box the rest of the team received at the start of the season. A video tribute at Amerant Bank Arena for the three is likely as well.

“I feel like a kid on Christmas Eve about to wake up to my big present,” gushed Lorentz on Tuesday as the Leafs prepared to fly south. “I’m biased, but from what I’ve seen of the ring in pictures, I think it’s one of the better I’ve seen the past through years.

“It’s simple enough, it has the diamonds and everything, but I’ve heard the box it comes in plays a little video inside. I’ll probably keep it for a while then give it to my mom and dad to show everybody.”

Lorentz played 38 regular-season games and 16 in playoffs, while Ekman-Larsson was in more than a hundred contests, including all 24 in playoffs.

“I was only there for one year, but a lot happened,” Ekman-Larsson said. “We had our son there, won a Cup and built some really good, lasting relationships with the guys. Memories that will last the rest of your life so it’s a special feeling to go back.”

He, too, has seen the title rings online.

“I think they look pretty sweet.”

Stolarz made most of his contributions in the regular season, spelling off Sergei Bobrovsky in 24 starts, with a record of 16-7-2 with a .925 save percentage. He made one post-season relief appearance.

“I’m appreciative of that organization and everything it has done for me,” Stolarz said. “We’re looking forward to getting that hardware. This is something that doesn’t happen every day and something I can keep in my family for generations.”

CAT SCTATCH FEVER

It’s fine in theory to bring in members of a Cup champion in the hope they inspire the regulars on a team that has just one series win in recent years and hope it works. Many teams try it without replicating the success, but all three ex-Cats have had an immediate positive impact in Toronto.

Stolarz led the NHL in save percentage to start this week, Ekman-Larsson has been a big part of a tidier Toronto zone and Lorentz is the Leafs’ hits leader with 53.

“Different roles, different positions, but they’ve all added what we want in our game,” coach Craig Berube said.

But he expects the trio and all the Leafs to get a rough welcome at puck drop.

“They’re a great team over there, that’s why they won because they know what they’re doing. They play a very direct game and we’ll have to do a good job against their forecheck and their pressure. They’re a physical team, it will be a battle and we have to make sure that we stand up to that battle and initiate, play our game.”

MATTHEWS IMPRESSED

Leaf locker room humour must have included a few chirps tossed Auston Matthews’ way to take his time coming back with the team posting a record of 7-1 in his absence.

But the leading scorer says he’s quite impressed watching how the Leafs made their way into first place, not only without him, but down seven forwards in all the past couple of games.

“We continue to progress, bank wins, and that’s the sign of a great team. It gives you a lot of encouragement. It sucks watching; obviously I want to be out there as soon as possible, but to see guys step up, make an impact, it’s great.”

Mitch Marner, his regular right winger, is excelling on a line with John Tavares and Bobby McMann that will likely stay together if Matthews returns Wednesday or not.

“Just the consistency every night, they’re playing against the other team’s top lines for the most part,” Matthews noted. “They seem to be driving a lot of good play for us.”

LOOSE LEAFS

This won’t be Lorentz’s first ring. He has a Calder Cup ring from the 2020 Charlotte Checkers and almost got a third, losing a Game 7 of the ECHL Kelly Cup with the Florida Everblades. “Could’ve had the trifecta, but I’m not complaining,” Lorentz laughed … Alex Nylander became the sixth player from the top 100 of the 2016 draft who was not chosen by Toronto to have played with the Leafs or Marlies. They include Kieffer Bellows (19th, Islanders), Dylan Gambrell (60th, San Jose), Joey Anderson (73rd, New Jersey), Hudson Elyniuk (74th, Carolina) and Victor Mete (100th, Montreal). Leafs’ 2016 picks to have played at least a game here include Matthews, Joseph Woll, Egor Korshkov (one goal in his lone start) and Adam Brooks.

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Maple Leafs notes: Rings are the thing for trio in return to Florida

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