Maple Leafs Claim Oilers’ Troy Stecher Off Waivers

The Oilers had been weighing whether to trade Stecher, but they weren’t eager to move him unless absolutely necessary. Friedman reported that the veteran defender was the most likely candidate due to limited playing time and Edmonton’s blue-line logjam.

Still, his low cap hit and reliability made him valuable depth, especially for inevitable injuries. N Toronto, where the Maple Leafs are struggling, Stecher will become a reliable veteran option.

The Oilers had also explored moving higher-salary players like Mattias Janmark or, less likely, Ty Emberson to create meaningful cap space. Ultimately, it was determined that Stecher was the player to move, knowing there was a chance the team could lose him for no return.