Troy Stecher is reportedly close to an extension with the Maple Leafs and after being a simple waiver claim, he turned into a key part of the locker room.
Last season the Maple Leafs claimed Stecher off waivers from the Edmonton Oilers as they dealt with a litany of injuries and he was only meant to serve as depth. That turned into a full-time job where he appeared in 58 games and helped try and solidify a dysfunctional Toronto blueline.
Currently he's set to hit free agency though he has stated numerous times he wanted to return to the team after they gave him a fair shake and provided him with the best environment he's ever played in.
Troy Stecher closing in on an extension worth roughly $1-1.5M AAV
Well, it sounds like Stecher is going to get his wish. It was reported by Elliotte Friedman on Monday afternoon that the Maple Leafs and Stecher were closing in on an extension that could be somewhere in the range of $1-1.5M per season:
Hearing Toronto is closing on an extension with Troy Stecher, who played very well for them...sounds like it's between $1-$1.5M
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Stecher, 32, had 14 points in 64 games with both Toronto and Edmonton though scored all his points as a member of the Maple Leafs. The 10-year veteran has 131 points in 624 games while playing for Vancouver, Edmonton, Toronto, Arizona, Detroit, Calgary and Los Angeles.
The fan-favourite who wanted to stay in town is getting his wish
Stecher has been extremely grateful for the chance to be with Toronto and he's mentioned how the organization operates differently and how that affects him as a player.
Stecher is also someone who the fans quickly fell in love with due to his scrappy nature, infectious smile, work ethic and leadership. He's the perfect cheap depth defender who can help be a mentor for names like Emil Andrae and potentially William Villeneuve.
Plus, the passion runs strong in Stecher, as he loves when the Maple Leafs crowd is rowdy and is as dedicated to the team as they are:
The louder they are, the better. This is my 10th year in the NHL and I always loved coming here and Montreal to play, the two centres of the hockey world.
While his Montreal comments may ruffle a couple of feathers, he's not exactly wrong in his statement. But his realization of how important it is to wear the Maple Leaf isn't lost on him. It's a good signing for Toronto as their offseason work continues.
Are you excited to see Troy Stecher back with the Maple Leafs?
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