Steven Lorentz’s AHL Scoring Gives Blue Jackets a Forward Option
Lorentz has six goals in six games for Cleveland, while three younger Monsters forwards are also making a case for NHL opportunities.
Columbus has a potential answer to its sluggish forward production waiting in Cleveland. Steven Lorentz has scored six goals and added an assist in six games with the Monsters, giving the Blue Jackets a veteran option who can bring size, defensive responsibility and a scoring touch to a group searching for reliable contributions.
That start is hard to overlook, particularly with the fourth line struggling to make an impact on the scoreboard. Lorentz is 30, stands 6-foot-4 and weighs 220 pounds, so calling him up wouldn’t require Columbus to change the physical profile of its lineup. The more interesting question is whether his early scoring can translate into a useful role at the NHL level.
Lorentz has made a strong first impression
The seven points and plus-3 rating Lorentz has posted through six games make a persuasive case for a look. This is his first AHL action since 2020, and he’s brought a steady veteran presence to a young Cleveland roster while showing more offensive ability than expected.
That combination matters for a Columbus team that has had trouble finding consistent production beyond the Sillinger-Coyle-Olivier line. The Blue Jackets have rotated several players through healthy scratches, including Dmitry Voronkov, Luca Del Bel Belluz, Danton Heinen, Carson Soucy, Emil Andrae and Jake Christiansen. The changing lineup suggests there’s room for competition, but another change only helps if the incoming player can offer a clear fit.
Lorentz could bring a straightforward one. His size and two-way approach make him a plausible fourth-line option, and his finishing so far gives the coaching staff another reason to consider him. Six games is a small sample, especially after a long stretch away from the AHL, so the scoring pace alone shouldn’t settle the question. Still, this is a productive start that merits attention.
His path to Columbus also appears relatively simple. Lorentz cleared waivers before the trade that brought him to the organization, and the source article says he wouldn’t have to clear them again if the Blue Jackets sent him back to Cleveland after a brief call-up. That could make a short NHL audition a manageable roster decision, while giving the team a chance to see whether his AHL form holds up against tougher competition.
A promotion would require a corresponding move. Carson Soucy and Christiansen are possible names to consider, though Christiansen had a good game against Toronto. The choice would depend on Columbus’ needs and the roles available, rather than simply rewarding the player with the hottest scoring line. Lorentz’s strongest argument is that he offers the team a different option at forward without asking it to sacrifice size.
Cleveland offers more than one kind of spark
Lorentz isn’t the only Monster building a case. Jack Williams, Luca Pinelli and Mikael Pyyhtia have each started well, and their different profiles give Columbus several ways to adjust its forward mix.
Williams nearly made the Blue Jackets out of camp and has three assists in three games with Cleveland. At 24, he has already had opportunities on the power play, penalty kill and in overtime during his time with the Monsters. His 5-foot-11 frame comes with speed, physicality and enough versatility to make him an intriguing candidate for a fourth-line role. The source describes him as similar to Lorentz, but with more burst and creativity.
Pinelli brings a stronger scoring case. The 21-year-old had 46 points in 68 AHL games last season and has added three goals and three assists through six games this year. At 5-foot-9 and 168 pounds, he’s smaller than many of Columbus’ forwards, but he plays with grit and isn’t shy about standing up for himself. He also appeared in three games with the Blue Jackets last season without recording a point, gaining an initial NHL look in the process.
Pyyhtia has the most NHL experience of the three younger forwards: 71 games with Columbus. The 24-year-old has had uneven stretches, but the source points to an offensive breakout last season as reason to consider a longer opportunity. He’s now recorded three goals and three assists in four games for Cleveland. His experience across three full seasons in Finland’s top professional league also supports the case that he can contribute responsibly away from the puck.
Each player offers a different balance. Williams brings pace and versatility; Pinelli has the most obvious scoring upside among the younger options; Pyyhtia combines AHL production with NHL experience; and Lorentz provides the size and veteran presence the current lineup already values. Columbus doesn’t need to make a permanent commitment to learn from a call-up. A defined opportunity could show whether one of these forwards can improve the group’s energy and consistency.
The team’s slow start has made that competition more relevant. Aside from the Sillinger-Coyle-Olivier trio, Columbus hasn’t found steady production from its lines, and the existing rotation of healthy scratches hasn’t yet supplied a lasting answer. A new face won’t solve every problem, but leaving productive players in Cleveland without a chance would limit the options available.
Lorentz is the most immediate candidate on the strength of his six goals, while Williams, Pinelli and Pyyhtia give the organization several younger alternatives. The next move is to identify which player can fill a specific need in Columbus, then give that player enough responsibility to make the opportunity meaningful.
