Zack MacEwen forces Maple Leafs’ hand as Steven Lorentz hits waivers

Zack MacEwen picked an ideal night to make his case to stay with the Toronto Maple Leafs. In a 6–1 pre-season win against the Ottawa Senators on Wednesday in Toronto, the physical forward filled the stat sheet and answered the bell physically, leading directly to a significant roster decision the following day: Steven Lorentz was placed on waivers and MacEwen took a spot on the fourth line at practice.

Goal, fight and edge lift MacEwen up the depth chart

Used in a depth role, MacEwen jumped into the rush to finish off a sharp setup from Easton Cowan, then made his presence felt with blocks and hits. He squared off with Hayden Hodgson, a rugged winger he knows from his time in Ottawa, and was ejected late after going in to protect defenceman Jake McCabe when Hodgson kept pushing the physical envelope.

His 15 penalty minutes exceeded his 11:11 of ice time, but MacEwen viewed the night as exactly the type of audition he needed, especially against a former team. Head coach Jim Hiller praised his work on the forecheck, his ability to get pucks deep and retrieve them, his mobility for a big body and his willingness to finish checks. Hiller also pointed to MacEwen’s readiness to respond when games get rough as a key part of his value.

The crowd at Scotiabank Arena roared when MacEwen dropped the gloves. He later said the reaction and the way the game unfolded were special for him, adding that hearing the fans respond that way “just fires me up.”

Lorentz on waivers after uneven follow-up season

On Thursday, the Maple Leafs exposed Lorentz to waivers while promoting MacEwen into the mix on their energy line during the final skate before flying to Arizona for a team-bonding trip. Lorentz also scored in Ottawa, but his more understated style and a higher cap hit — $1.35 million — work against him. That figure could also make it easier for Toronto to sneak him through waivers.

Lorentz, 30, posted career highs with 19 points in 80 games for the Leafs in 2024–25, before taking a step back last season with healthy scratches and a dip in confidence. A lifelong Maple Leafs fan, he has spoken about the need to simplify his approach after sometimes trying too hard to stand out, saying that chasing big hits and flashy plays can pull him away from his game.

From ACL tear to two-year bet on Toronto

MacEwen’s resurgence comes less than a year after a major setback with the New Jersey Devils. He appeared in only three games there before a freak ACL tear in November ended his season. This summer, he signed a two-year, $1.75-million contract with Toronto, considered team-friendly, after weighing multiple offers around the league.

The Charlottetown, P.E.I., native spent the off-season in Halifax, training with stars such as Sidney Crosby, Nathan MacKinnon and Brad Marchand while grinding through a demanding rehab. He now says he feels fully healthy and believes the work he put in is paying off, noting that he simply wants to keep building and improving.

Roster battles at the bottom of the lineup remain fluid, and one strong night will not settle them entirely. Still, MacEwen’s combination of scoring, physical play and willingness to stand up for teammates has clearly nudged him ahead of Lorentz for now. Elsewhere in camp, Nick Paul left Wednesday’s game early and missed Thursday’s practice, with Hiller describing the injury as not overly concerning but leaving his status for the opener uncertain. Matthew Knies is pushing to get back on the top power-play unit, for the moment skating on the second group that also features Gavin McKenna, while Auston Matthews welcomes a brief move of camp to his hometown of Scottsdale before the season begins.