Report: Maple Leafs eyeing Lorentz extension ahead of July 1st free agency

On DailyFaceoff’s list of this year’s top 75 UFAs, Lorentz came in at 55th, joining Toronto’s Mitch Marner and Max Pacioretty on the list. According to AFP projections, his extension is likely to be short term at a similar AAV to his last one, which came in at $775,000.

Through his first season in Toronto, Lorentz scored eight goals and finished with 19 points, playing an almost complete 80-game season as the team suffered injuries up and down their roster. He also brought much-needed physicality to Toronto’s bottom six, finishing second on the Leafs with 199 hits, while taking 73 in return and blocking 55 shots. At 6-foot-4 and 216 pounds, he brought the kind of size NHL teams are chasing right now, especially in Toronto where they’re looking to become a tougher team to play in the postseason. While Lorentz only registered two points in the playoffs this year, he threw 42 hits and took 33.

He was also one of the feel good stories of the 2024-25 season. After he scored his first goal in the blue and white sweater, a photo went viral of his high school yearbook stating his aspiration to one day play with the Toronto Maple Leafs. That paired with a photo of him as a young kid in Leafs’ pyjamas made the Kitchener native an instant fan favourite.

While he has the potential to earn a slight raise if he hits the market, he indicated last year that he took a smaller contract to play for his hometown team, and hopefully is willing to do so again. Given his size, consistency, and low cost, Treliving is smart to take a crack at re-signing him on Monday before he hits the open waters in tomorrow’s Free Agent Frenzy.