NHL Roster Cuts
Toronto Maple Leafs Place Steven Lorentz Among 34 Players on Waivers
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Key Points
1
Lorentz was absent from practice on the day of the waiver news and had regularly skated as an extra forward during training camp. He has played 381 career NHL games and has 36 goals and 80 points.
2
Toronto’s offseason changes included trading Simon Benoit for defenceman Emil Andrae and acquiring Darren Raddysh in a sign-and-trade with Tampa Bay, followed by an eight-year extension for Raddysh. Sergei Bobrovsky is set to pair with Anthony Stolarz after Joseph Woll and Dennis Hildeby were traded.
3
McWard signed a two-year, $1.75-million contract that pays his full salary even if he plays in the minors. He had six goals and 27 points in 63 games with AHL Bridgeport last season.
4
Mermis recorded a goal and 11 penalty minutes in 11 games with Toronto last season; the report characterized him as an emergency depth option.
The Toronto Maple Leafs placed forward Steven Lorentz on waivers Wednesday as part of a sweeping roster shake-up ahead of the new season. Lorentz, 30, earned $1.35 million annually and recorded seven goals and 18 points in 71 games last year. The Leafs also waived defencemen Dakota Mermis and Cole McWard the same day, with 34 NHL players hitting waivers overall.
The moves reflect general manager John Chayka's aggressive offseason rebuild. Toronto acquired defenceman Emil Andrae, added forward Darren Raddysh on a sign-and-trade, and paired goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky with Anthony Stolarz after trading away Joseph Woll and Dennis Hildeby. Newly signed Nick Paul is day-to-day with an injury and may miss the opener.
Lorentz's Fall From Practice Fixture
Lorentz was conspicuously absent from practice on waiver day after skating regularly as an extra forward throughout training camp. Over his six-year NHL career, the 30-year-old played 381 games and scored 36 goals with 80 points. His $1.35 million cap hit made him a depth option Toronto could no longer afford to keep.
Depth Defencemen Heading to the Minors
Dakota Mermis played just 11 games for Toronto last season, recording one goal and 11 penalty minutes. He serves as an emergency depth option for the rebuilding Leafs. Cole McWard, also waived Wednesday, signed a two-year, $1.75 million contract that guarantees full pay even if he plays in the AHL. Hockey Feed reports that McWard had six goals and 27 points in 63 games with AHL Bridgeport last season.
Chayka's Major Overhaul Takes Shape
The Leafs' offseason has been marked by significant change across every position. They traded Simon Benoit to acquire Emil Andrae on defence, then signed forward Darren Raddysh to an eight-year extension following a sign-and-trade with Tampa Bay. In goal, the team moved on from Joseph Woll and Dennis Hildeby, settling on Sergei Bobrovsky and Anthony Stolarz as their pairing.
Nick Paul's Injury Clouds Opening Week
Newly acquired forward Nick Paul remains day-to-day with an undisclosed injury, creating uncertainty for Toronto's season-opener plans. CBS Sports confirmed the injury came shortly after the team's offseason acquisitions. The Leafs will need to finalize their opening roster once the waiver period ends and Paul's status becomes clear.
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