Maple Leafs claimed Troy Stecher, and Friedman just hinted at a real worry about the blue line
Photo credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images
On the surface, the move to add Troy Stecher looked like a way to boost the team's puck-moving, but Elliotte Friedman quietly highlighted another concerning reason, and it involves Chris Tanev.
When the Toronto Maple Leafs claimed Troy Stecher off waivers from the Edmonton Oilers, it was a savvy move on Brad Treliving's part as a way to add some puck-moving and transition offense to his backend.
He also adds some much needed insurance while the team deals with some injuries, and with over 500 NHL games under his belt, he's got a shot at helping stop the skid Toronto is currently facing.
>Elliotte Friedman quietly links the Troy Stecher claim to Chris Tanev's uncertain timeline
According to Elliotte Friedman, the team's acquisition of Stecher is at least partly motivated by uncertainty and uneasiness around Chris Tanev's timeline.
Friedman noted on Monday's episode of 32 Thoughts that Stecher was being coveted by a couple teams including Carolina, but Toronto pulled the trigger thanks to Tanev's injury:
With Troy Stecher, I think there were a couple teams looking at him; one of the teams I heard that was...looking at him was Carolina; Toronto, I think it's kind of an admission we don't know what the timeline is with Tanev.
Brad Treliving was honest in his media conference on Tuesday that he had no timeline for Tanev, and with him suffering two injuries in such quick fashion, it makes sense not to rush him back.
One positive is that he was seen skating on Tuesday, a sign that he's at least able to get on the ice and work slowly towards a return.
How Stecher's arrival and Tanev's health scare expose just how thin the Leafs' blue line really is
Tanev, 35, has only skated in eight games this season with two assists and while he has been able to stay healthy recently over the past few seasons, this latest setback is a real cause for concern.
He's arguably Toronto's most capable shutdown defender, and his absence has been felt, with the team seemingly giving up more high-danger chances and sitting with the fourth-worst goals against in the NHL (72).
Right now the team is needing to use Dakota Mermis and pickups like Stecher in order to stop the bleeding but they can't rely on waivers all season. If another defender goes down then the team has a tough decision to make.
Do they continue to run with Philippe Myers, who has had a rough year so far, or do they give a rookie like William Villeneuve a shot?
He moves the puck well, looks a more than capable defender, and many feel he's been on the cusp of breaking through for a while.
There's no clear indication yet of which direction the team is going to go, and Stecher's acquisition looks like a way to stop the bleeding for now and buy time until Tanev is ready to return.
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