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Analyst Can’t Believe the Oilers Let this Defenseman Go

Originally posted on NHL Trade Talk | By Jackson Weber | Last updated Dec 10, 2025 3:46 PM ET

The Edmonton Oilers never wanted to get rid of Troy Stecher, but the circumstances they were faced with forced their hand, and the Toronto Maple Leafs are now reaping the rewards of it.

With Zach Hyman ready to return from injury, the Oilers had to make room for their star winger to join the lineup, and after failing to find a partner via trade, Stan Bowman ultimately had no choice but to waive Stecher, who was then scooped up by a desperate Maple Leafs team, riddled with injuries on the right side of their blue line.

Since joining the seventh team of his 10-year career thus far, Stecher has been fantastic, helping stabilize Toronto’s defense corps, stepping into the biggest role he’s ever had to shoulder at the NHL level.

His steady play alongside Jake McCabe on the second pairing has been a catalyst in the Maple Leafs’ 6-2-2 run over their last 10 games, and TSN analyst Jeff O’Neill is still shocked that the Oilers let him leave for nothing.

O’Neill said:

“I just gotta ask you, I’m being serious. And I don’t want to blow this thing out of proportion, but I love the guy’s outlook on life, hockey. His plot in pro sports, how he’s basically playing for his life every shift. I think he’s effective. How did Edmonton just toss him aside? Like, I think he’s a really good player, man, I really do,”

The 31-year-old Stecher is in year two of the two-year, $1.575 million extension he signed with the Oilers in 2024. He was, of course, claimed off waivers by the Maple Leafs in mid-November and hasn’t looked back ever since.

The Oilers Went With Upside Over Troy Stecher

While hindsight shows it would have been nice to keep Stecher around, the Oilers had younger options with higher upside, which could benefit them moving forward.

When healthy, Evan Bouchard, Darnell Nurse, Mattias Ekholm, Jake Walman, and Brett Kulak are lineup locks in Edmonton. That left Stecher, Ty Emberson, and Alec Regula to fill the six and seven spots on defense, and given that the latter two are 25 years old, the Oilers were able to stomach the former’s departure.

Stecher played his role quite well in Edmonton, but nobody could have predicted the success he’d have upon arriving in Toronto, so at this point, all they can really do is tip their cap, because both teams will end up being alright when all is said and done.

This article first appeared on NHL Trade Talk and was syndicated with permission.

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