Troy Stecher continues to prove value to Maple Leafs teammates: ‘Thank god Edmonton let him go’

When the Toronto Maple Leafs picked up Troy Stecher on waivers from the Edmonton Oilers in mid-November, nobody could have predicted the value he’d bring to the defensive corps. Having played for six different teams before his arrival in Toronto, he came at a time when Leafs defencemen were dropping like flies and instantly jumped in and played tough minutes to weather the storm while the back end got healthy.

Stecher scored the game-winning goal in a 4-2 win over the Calgary Flames on Monday night in what was part of a unique road trip for the 31-year-old, with all three of the Leafs’ final games heading into the break coming against former teams of his. When asked about the emotions he feels in these games, he admitted that it hangs in the back of his mind but reaffirmed his commitment to his current team.

“I mean, I’m a suitcase obviously,” Stecher said to a room of laughter. “Yeah, I don’t know. It’s unique…I loved being a Canuck, I loved being a flame, I loved being an Oiler, and now I love being a Maple Leaf. And that’s where my pride and joy lies. But, I’m not oblivious to the memories that I have in the past, and I’m very fortunate for those memories.”

It’s no secret that the Maple Leafs have a steep uphill climb in front of them if they want to make the playoffs, putting a serious dagger into their playoff chances with a six-game losing streak before snapping it against the Canucks on Saturday. But, Stecher, like his teammates, continues to express belief that this team can go on a run and make it to the dance.

“I mean, the 25 guys in that room, we have a belief and that’s all that matters,” Stecher said. “And the east is tight, man. Like, we’ve got an important one tomorrow. You don’t want to look too far ahead, but I think we’ve got, like, 18 games against our conference after the break. So, there’s a lot of belief in that room and a lot of hockey left to play.”

Defencemen who play a style of game like Stecher’s always have a special relationship with their goaltender, and Joseph Woll exemplified that when discussing Stecher’s play following the win.

“Thank god Edmonton let him go,” Woll told reporters with a laugh. “Yeah, he’s a great guy. I really enjoy having him here, obviously he’s a great player on the ice and I trust him a lot back there. He’s really good with our goalie calls, too. He talks a lot and I feel like he’s smooth back there, so I feel like our chemistry is building as well.”

The Maple Leafs will travel north for one final game before the break with a tilt against the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday night.