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Maple Leafs’ Steven Lorentz excited to work with new-look bottom six next season
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Photo credit: Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images
Michael Coyle
Jul 9, 2026, 12:00 EDTUpdated: Jul 9, 2026, 10:24 EDT
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The Toronto Maple Leafs entered free agency with a distinct attack plan that has seemingly set the club up for more success heading into the 2026-27 regular season. 
On July 1, the Maple Leafs added six forwards as they look to strengthen a group that was a weakness for much of last year’s failures. To strengthen the bottom-six forward group, the Maple Leafs added Colton Sissons, Nick Paul, Brandon Duhaime, and Teddy Blueger as players who can bring in elements the club lacked last season. 
One of the incumbents from the Maple Leafs’ bottom six last season, Steven Lorentz, appeared on TSN’s Overdrive on Tuesday and spoke about what next season will be like with the additions joining the group.
“There’s a little bit of a brotherhood among players in those roles because you know the work it takes to stay in the league,” Lorentz said. “I’m excited to meet everyone and get to work. 
Last season, to the surprise of no one, was a letdown for the Maple Leafs. The club slumped to a 32-36-14 record, and while Lorentz posted 18 points, only one shy of the 19 he recorded in his first season with the club, he endured a 29-game stretch through the season in which the 30-year-old failed to record a goal. 
Lorentz skated in 71 games, but at times he found himself scratched from the lineup as the Maple Leafs searched for answers to turn the ship around on the season. Unfortunately, those answers never came, which is a big reason why the Maple Leafs had such an aggressive plan of attack during free agency. 
“It’s definitely exciting. Obviously, when your team doesn’t do so well, there’s going to be some changes in the offseason. We made a lot of changes from the top down,” Lorentz said. “They moved on from some guys, and that’s the unfortunate part of the business because they were all good guys and good people. Again, that’s what happens sometimes when you underperform, especially in such a big market with high expectations.” 
Another player whom the Maple Leafs signed on July 1 was goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky. Bobrovsky and Lorentz will reunite after spending the 2023-24 season together in Florida, when the two became Stanley Cup champions with the Panthers. Lorentz touched on joining forces with Bobrovsky, as well as the other additions. 
“I’m definitely looking forward to seeing my guy, Bobby, and all the new signings,” Lorentz said. “It seemed like a lot of the signings were depth signings and guys who are going to play in the bottom six, so it’s always a pleasure getting to know those guys.” 
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