Insider Signals Imminent Contract Extension for Key Maple Leafs Forward
A new report indicates Brad Treliving and the Toronto Maple Leafs appear to be breaking ground on a contract extension for a key forward.
NHL Analyst Nick Kypreos reported that as January 1st is the first day that Lorentz can be signed to a contract extension, that the Toronto Maple Leafs will be looking into a potential new deal for the forward.
This doesn't mean a deal will come right away for Lorentz, but indicates that Toronto is interested in a potential extension for Lorentz to stay with the Leafs after this season.
Lorentz has four goals and seven points in 38 games for the Toronto Maple Leafs this season, primarily used on the fourth line in a defensive checking role.
Lorentz has value for his ability to play both center and at wing, that sort of versatility being an archetype the Leafs have valued heavily in the past few years and have sought to add.
As well as being a dependable veteran, Lorentz brings a Stanley Cup win to the Leafs locker room, having won last season with the Florida Panthers, one of three players from the Panthers cup run to join Toronto, along with Anthony Stolarz and Oliver Ekman-Larsson.
An extension would be quite the new year's day reward for Lorentz, who hit the Leafs final game winner of 2024 in a 3-1 win against the New York Islanders.
Toronto Maple Leafs Beginning Focus On Extension Talks
The Toronto Maple Leafs start the clock for potential signings and could lock up their first pending free agent in Lorentz, a simple, cost-efficient move for the Leafs who know they have bigger fish to fry.
Toronto heads into 2025 still having not signed free agents Mitch Marner and John Tavares, with the indication being both will be back in Toronto to new contracts but nothing put to paper.
TSN's Darren Dreger recently reported that talks between the Leafs and Marner weren't expected to go too in-depth until the turn of the new year, letting the Leafs star focus on his play before taking his contract year to work out negotiations.
John Tavares is expected to return to Toronto, likely on a team-friendly bridge deal, with reports suggesting both sides have at least a basic framework to go by.
The Toronto Maple Leafs will balance signing their marquee free agents with making sure the rest of the roster is still built to contend, with a Lorentz deal showing the team is not neglecting the bottom part of it's roster.
