The Toronto Maple Leafs might be slipping in the playoff race, but that hasn't stopped them from scoring some wins - both on the ice and with a little postgame banter. Monday night’s 4-2 victory over the Calgary Flames gave Leafs fans something to smile about, and it came courtesy of a player who’s quietly becoming one of Toronto’s most dependable blue-liners: Troy Stecher.
Stecher, who spent parts of the last three seasons with the Edmonton Oilers, was waived by the club back in November. At the time, it didn’t exactly send shockwaves through the league.
He was seen as a depth piece - a serviceable defender, but not someone expected to shift the needle. Fast forward to now, and things are looking a little different.
In his 37 games with the Leafs, Stecher has brought a steady, calming presence to a defensive corps that’s needed exactly that. And on Monday, he stepped up in a big way, scoring the eventual game-winning goal against Calgary. It was the kind of moment that doesn’t just show up on the scoresheet - it builds trust in the room, and goalie Joseph Woll made that crystal clear in his postgame remarks.
“Stech is stepping up and getting a big goal for us,” Woll said. “Thank god Edmonton let him go.
He’s such an unbelievable player. He’s a great guy, so I really enjoy having him here.
He’s a great player on the ice, and I trust him a lot back there.”
That’s not just a compliment - that’s a goalie giving his defenseman a full vote of confidence, and maybe tossing a subtle jab at the Oilers front office in the process.
Meanwhile, Edmonton could probably use a little of what Stecher is bringing to Toronto. The Oilers have been leaking chances defensively in recent weeks, and while they’re leaning on younger names like Spencer Stastney, Alec Regula, and Ty Emberson to figure it out, that learning curve isn’t always kind. No one’s suggesting Stecher would’ve singlehandedly solved the Oilers’ defensive issues, but his veteran presence and reliability might’ve helped stabilize things during this rough patch.
The good news for Oilers fans? They won’t have to wait long to see Stecher again. The Leafs head to Edmonton on Tuesday night to close out the season series, and you can bet there’ll be a little extra edge when Stecher steps onto the ice at Rogers Place.
He may not have made headlines when he left Edmonton, but he’s sure making his presence felt now - and the Leafs are all the better for it.