Maple Leafs claim defenseman Troy Stecher off waivers to help patch injured blue line
Photo credit: Thomas Salus-Imagn Images
The Toronto Maple Leafs have added defensive depth via the waiver wire, claiming Troy Stecher from the Edmonton Oilers.
As the team sits in a four-game losing skid and deals with multiple injuries, the Maple Leafs have turned to the waiver wire to add another option on the back end.
Per Elliotte Friedman on X, the team has claimed defenseman Troy Stecher off waivers from the Edmonton Oilers:
Stecher was placed on waivers by the Oilers on Friday.
This season, the 31-year-old skated in six games, registering zero points, three blocks, 8 PIM and an even plus/minus.
For his career, Stecher has 117 points in 566 games (22 goals, 95 assists) and has played with six different teams before Toronto: Vancouver, Edmonton, Arizona, Detroit, Calgary and Los Angeles.
Stecher gives Craig Berube another right-shot depth option on defense while the team waits for its blue line to get healthy.
GM Brad Treliving has some history with the defenseman as Stecher was acquired by Treliving in 2023 while GM of the Calgary Flames in the deal that sent Brett Ritchie to Arizona for Ritchie's brother Nick.
Where Troy Stecher fits into the Maple Leafs' blue line right now
Right now, Stecher looks to be another depth option for the Maple Leafs, though his handedness does help a lot given how many lefties the team employs on defense (and already down a righty in Chris Tanev).
There's no guarantees that he will immediately come in and steal a spot, however with the lack of production from the other defensemen like Dakota Mermis or Philippe Myers, the team may opt for a new look to see if he'll be a better fit.
Considering there is no real timeline for the return of Tanev, it's possible we see Stecher getting in as many games as possible, and his early career numbers show that he can add both offense and defense to a team (75 points through his first four seasons; 307 blocks, minus-4).
Don't expect this to be the big move that Brad Treliving wants to make however, and Stecher's claim is in the same vein as Cayden Primeau's earlier this year as he was brought in to help cover for Joseph Woll.
Stecher could lineup as early as Saturday night against the Blackhawks, but nothing is set in stone as of yet.
If he can come in and make an impact, then his spot in the lineup won't just be another short-term solution to a bigger problem.
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