The Maple Leafs are bracing for the likelihood that defenseman Brandon Carlo will need surgery, and while that’s never good news, the team isn’t exactly spiraling in his absence.
Head coach Craig Berube didn’t sugarcoat the situation when speaking to reporters in Florida ahead of Tuesday night’s matchup against the Panthers. “He has to get something done,” Berube said.
“It didn’t go the way we thought.” When asked if surgery is on the table for the 29-year-old blueliner, Berube was blunt: “Probably.”
Carlo hasn’t played since November 13 against the Kings, and while his presence on the back end is typically valuable, this season hasn’t been his best. The Leafs have gone 3-3-1 in the seven games since his injury - not dominant, but certainly not disastrous - and part of that stability has come from an unexpected source.
Enter Troy Stecher.
Claimed off waivers from the Oilers on November 15, Stecher has stepped in and quietly done his job - and done it well. Tuesday’s game against Florida will mark his seventh appearance with the Leafs, and he’s logging 17:27 of ice time per night, just a tick above his career average. That might not jump off the stat sheet, but for a midseason waiver pickup, it’s a solid contribution.
Stecher’s brought a noticeable jolt of energy to the blue line. He’s not trying to be flashy - just steady, reliable, and smart in his decisions. And right now, that’s exactly what Toronto needs as they navigate the uncertainty around Carlo’s timeline.
While losing a veteran like Carlo is never ideal, the Leafs have found a way to stay afloat. If Stecher keeps playing like this and the rest of the D-core holds steady, Toronto might just weather this storm without losing much ground.