Steven Lorentz officially hit the waiver wire today, a move that clarifies some things for the Toronto Maple Leafs’ fourth line but also leaves a few questions hanging. This isn’t exactly a shocker for anyone who’s been tracking their preseason moves closely.
The Fight for the Fourth Line Spots
The Leafs have pretty clearly telegraphed their plan for the fourth line, wanting Teddy Blueger to center it with Brandon Duhaime on the wing. So, what happened to Lorentz? He lost that battle to Duhaime, who’s apparently a similar level player but brings “extra flash and sizzle.” Ouch. It stings to be out-sizzled! Now, the big question is who takes that other wing spot. Dakota Joshua has been practicing, even if he hasn’t been playing, and newcomer Zack MacEwen has been making some small waves in the preseason. Sounds like one or both of those guys could be rotating in, making that fourth line a real mix-and-match situation.
Waiver Wire Drama Isn’t Over Yet
But here’s the kicker for Lorentz: even if he clears waivers, he doesn’t *have* to be sent down. He can hang around on the Leafs’ main roster for 29 days or play 9 NHL games before needing waivers again. So, he’s not necessarily gone for good right away. If Dakota Joshua lands on IR, or if Nick Paul isn’t well enough to lace up by next week, Lorentz might not go anywhere at all. Yesterday, the Leafs also waived Cole McWard and Dakota Mermis, and both those guys cleared. Seems like the waiver wire is buzzing. Other players expected to hit waivers before the final rosters drop include Brendan Brisson, Vinni Lettieri, Phil Myers, Michael Pezzetta, Henrik Rybinski, Marshall Rifai, and Ryan Tverberg.
This whole situation shows the Leafs are really dialing in on their opening night roster. It’s a high-stakes game for these guys fighting for those last spots. Keep an eye on how that fourth line shapes up in the coming days; there’s still plenty of drama left before the puck drops!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pension Plan Puppets.
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