Former Leaf involved in Marchenko trade stuns hockey world with a hat trick

Steven Lorentz isn't known for being a goal-scorer but shocked the hockey world on Saturday with a hat trick, as he continues his fight towards an NHL job.

When the Maple Leafs traded Matthew Knies to the Columbus Blue Jackets for Kirill Marchenko, there were other pieces involved from both sides. Steven Lorentz and Emil Andrae were part of Toronto's package meanwhile Miles Wood and Elvis Merzlikins were Columbus' offerings.

So far the trade has worked out well for both sides as Knies is helping drive the offense in Columbus and Marchenko is looking more and more comfortable as a top line forward in Toronto. But it's Lorentz who is drawing all the attention right now.

Steven Lorentz...hat-trick hero?

The defensive-first forward isn't known for his scoring prowess but had been known to put a few goals in the back of the net from time to time. However, his performance on Saturday stunned the hockey world as he put up a hat trick as part of Columbus' AHL affiliate, Cleveland:

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Lorentz ripped a shot from the slot and didn't really seem like he wanted to gloat about it. He should have been proud though, as that brought the Monsters to a tie game at 4-4. His stellar performance pushed his season totals to four points in three games - leading the team.

It's not too shocking to see Lorentz score, as he has 36 career NHL goals including 15 over his past two seasons with Toronto, scoring nearly half his career total with the club.

With the additions of all the new faces to the bottom six, the Maple Leafs felt like Lorentz was expendable and after clearing waivers he was assigned to the Marlies. It didn't last long though as he was immediately packaged in the Knies-Marchenko blockbuster.

Does Lorentz deserve an NHL job again?

If he continues this pace in the AHL then it's going to be inevitable he earns a spot again, but if you were to look at if he can step in now? Absolutely.

Right now, the Blue Jackets have Danton Heinen penciled in as their 4C and while he's a solid bottom six player, he hasn't been too effective early on. It might behoove Rick Bowness to give the veteran Lorentz a shot if he were called up, as he can do everything Heinen does and more.

He's more physical, he's a better face-off taker, he can score at a better pace, he's bigger and heavier - fitting that crash and bang Blue Jackets system. It's worth giving him a shot at least early on to see what he can offer.

But for now, it seems like Lorentz traded in his defensive acumen in order to become a sharpshooter and it may be the reason he finds himself back in an NHL lineup.

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