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Why the Maple Leafs have placed forward Steven Lorentz on waivers

Toronto winger is entering second year of a three-year contract with an average annual value of $1.35 million US.

Published Sep 24, 2026  •  Last updated 8 hours ago  •  2 minute read

Emile Andrae (left) and Steven Lorentz at the Toronto Maple Leafs training camp in Etobicoke. Ernest Doroszuk/Toronto Sun

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Steven Lorentz was placed on waivers by the Maple Leafs on Thursday afternoon.

The writing was on the proverbial wall for Lorentz during the off-season.

When Maple Leafs general manager John Chayka rebuilt the team’s bottom-six at forward, adding Nick Paul, Colton Sissons, Teddy Blueger, Brandon Duhaime and Zack MacEwen, it seemed clear that the Leafs were ready to move on without Lorentz if it came to that.

The plan for Lorentz, provided he clears waivers on Friday, is that he will be reassigned to the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League. The National Hockey League veteran of 381 games hasn’t played a game in the AHL since the 2019-20 season.

Lorentz is entering the second year of a three-year contract that carries an average annual value of $1.35 million US. Per Puckpedia, if Lorentz is sent to the Marlies, it will cost the Leafs just $125,000 against the cap. If Lorentz is claimed, it would open a roster spot for the Leafs to sign defenceman Nick Blankenburg, in camp on a PTO.

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Tougher for Lorentz to swallow, perhaps, is the Leafs have a couple of bottom-six forwards who are not at 100%, never mind the camp absence of Max Domi.

Paul, who departed the pre-season game against the Ottawa Senators on Wednesday with an undisclosed injury, may or may not be ready for the regular-season opener on Tuesday against the Montreal Canadiens. Coach Jim Hiller couldn’t say one way or another, only that the team is taking it “day by day” with Paul.

And Dakota Joshua, working his way back from a core issue, was on the ice on Thursday but as the 13th forward.

Bo Groulx was on line with Sissons and Easton Cowan, while MacEwen skated with Blueger and Brandon Duhaime.

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About MacEwen specifically, Hiller said: “We like the physicality. I know he scored (Wednesday) night, but what was equally or probably more important to us was, there was some stuff going on, and he was able to get in there fairly quickly and do his job.”

Against Ottawa in Toronto, MacEwen scored in the second period and fought Hayden Hodgson in the third.

What are the other latest Leafs roster moves?

The Leafs made numerous cuts before heading to Arizona.

Also placed on waivers, for the purpose of being assigned to the Marlies, were forwards Brendan Brisson, Vinni Lettieri, Michael Pezzetta, Ryan Tverberg and Henrik Rybinski and defencemen Philippe Myers and Marshall Rifai.

Reassigned to the Marlies were goalies Artur Akhtyamov, Ken Appleby and Samuel Hlavaj; defencemen Noah Chadwick, Ben Danford and Blake Smith; and forwards Luke Haymes, Miroslav Holinka, Jacob Quillan and Landon Sim.

Forward Tinus Luc Koblar has been returned to Rogle of the Swedish Hockey League.

Meanwhile, defencemen Dakota Mermis and Cole McWard, placed on waivers by the Leafs on Wednesday, cleared on Thursday and will join the Marlies.

tkoshan@postmedia.com

X: @koshtorontosun

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