Waiver claim paying off as former Oiler shines for Maple Leafs

Troy Stecher wasn’t brought in with much fanfare, but he’s quickly becoming one of the Toronto Maple Leafs’ best in-season finds. Claimed off waivers to help stabilize a battered blue line, the depth defenseman has wasted no time proving he’s far more than an afterthought stopgap — he’s been one of their most reliable defenders. Stecher logged a team-high 23:52 in Saturday’s 7-2 win over Pittsburgh, his fourth-highest ice time in a single game since the 2018–19 season. Thrust into a top-four role with Simone Benoit out and both Chris Tanev and Brandon Carlo unavailable, he delivered an impressive all-situations performance: one assist, a +3 rating, a block, a takeaway, and steady defensive work. Per James Mirtle of The Athletic, Stecher tilted the ice Toronto’s way in many instances, and through his first six games, Stecher leads the Leafs in expected goals share at even strength (64 percent). So too, he has been on the ice for almost no high-danger looks against. The fact that he wasn’t a regular on a strugRead More