Steven Lorentz fits in well with Panthers, could end up having key role in bottom six

Lorentz plays a very fast and physical style of hockey, one that meshes well with Paul Maurice's systems

Last season, as the Florida Panthers were making their run to the Stanley Cup Final, the team had a clear identity.

They played a high-pressure, aggressive and physically demanding style of hockey, and once the players figured out just how much effort it took to play the way head coach Paul Maurice was asking, the sky was the limit.

Well, until injuries began picking off Florida’s players, but that’s another topic for another time.

The point I’m trying to make is that the Panthers know exactly what they want to do on the ice and can bring in players who fit that mold.

Enter forward Steven Lorentz.

He was acquired by Florida in the trade that sent Anthony Duclair to San Jose back in July.

After seeing Lorentz on the ice during training camp and the preseason, he strikes as a player who will fit in well with what the Panthers ask of their forwards on the ice.

He has a motor that doesn’t stop and is very active below the circles in both zones. Combine that with his massive 6-foot-4, 206-pound frame and ability to throw that body around and, at least after an initial analysis, it appears Lorentz could not only survive roster cuts, but thrive in South Florida.

“The systems here are just the way I like to play, it’s just aggressive and in-your-face,” Lorentz said after scoring a goal in Florida’s 4-3 preseason win over Carolina on Friday.

During his three-year NHL career, Lorentz has played 192 games for Sharks and the Carolina Hurricanes, racking up 20 goals and 40 points.

For such a big, physical forward, Lorentz does a good job staying out of the penalty box. That’s good because he’s been active on Florida’s penalty kill and could end up filling a role on that unit during the regular season.

His goal on Friday night was shorthanded.

“He is an energy guy, so that's what he's offering,” Maurice said Friday. “He's on the puck and he's trying to create through that energy, and he's also alive on the bench. He's got a great personality. We've worn some of these guys out so much they can't talk on the bench, but he seems to be getting stronger.”

Overall, it appears that Panthers GM Bill Zito may have found another player on a team-friendly deal (Lorentz will make $1.05M this season) who can end up having a key role on a team with championship aspirations.

“I'm pretty comfortable,” Lorentz said. “Obviously there's some learning that still has to be done but, as the days goes on, I'm getting more and more confidence.”