PRAGUE – Steven Lorentz doesn’t have a observe file that screams top-six winger.
Before the San Jose Sharks obtained the 26-year-old this summer season from the Carolina Hurricanes, Lorentz had simply 10 objectives in 112 NHL video games. He have been a forged AHL scorer, however at the Metropolitan Division winner, he used to be a fourth-liner.
So cue the outrage when Sharks head trainer David Quinn shuffled the deck after Friday’s 4-1 loss to the Nashville Predators, and put in Lorentz subsequent to his 2d line Logan Couture-Kevin Labanc duo.
But I believe that Lorentz modified some minds after a forged efficiency in Saturday’s 3-2 loss to the similar Preds.
“I thought Lorentz had a real good night,” Quinn famous. “I thought that line was our best line. I thought [Couture] was really good. I thought Labanc had a really good weekend.”
Lorentz ended his night time with an help, however that wasn’t what inspired me.
In each performs, the 6-foot-4 winger flashed difference-making measurement, pace, and power.
In the primary clip, Lorentz (16) sticked away a centering move to Mikael Granlund (64). Labanc (62) confirmed nice imaginative and prescient and contact to get the puck down nearly 200 ft with out an icing, throwing an extended bomb that Lorentz may just get to. Lorentz blew by way of Filip Forsberg (9), then did that and extra to important Jeremy Lauzon (3) to win the puck.
In the second one clip, no less than two steps at the back of Tanner Jeannot (84), Lorentz’s fast first step propelled him previous the Pred for every other puck fight win.
Now fact learn, I don’t assume that Lorentz is a top-six ahead on a playoff staff. He seems to be an impressive puck battler, and that’s in reality, in reality treasured – in step with SPORTLOGiQ, he used to be 8th within the NHL at 2.2 Offensive Zone Puck Battle Wins Per 20 out of 439 certified forwards (no less than 300 even-strength mins) – however I don’t assume that he has the palms for the task.
This play, once more, begins like such a lot of of Lorentz’s highlights: He has an implausible first step. Starting the race from kind of the similar spot, Lorentz has Yakov Trenin (13) sucking wind from the bounce. It’s a simple 2-on-1 with Tomas Hertl (48), largely as a result of Lorentz’s ft.
But then, the Lorentz saucer move has an excessive amount of sauce, and Hertl can’t corral it.
It’s tricky to make a sweeping judgment primarily based off one play – megastar winger Timo Meier, for instance, has overlooked a lot of passes thus far this season – and I’m certain the ice at a extremely popular O2 Arena didn’t lend a hand any one. But there’s surely, performs like that, at the mixture, are the adaptation between a top-six winger and a fourth-liner.
But let’s give credit score the place credit score is due.
Again, Lorentz’s skating and duration megastar. His forechecking drive in all probability forces Dante Fabbro (57) into an ill-advised move that Mario Ferraro (38) zooms into. Then Lorentz displays some top-six contact, placing the puck on a tee for Couture to smoke previous Kevin Lankinen.
So hiya, possibly Lorentz simply wishes a possibility to turn his stuff. Judging by way of Quinn’s feedback, he’s going to get it.
Next up for the San Jose Sharks: Here come Lorentz’s outdated staff, the Hurricanes.