The 31-year-old has been a rather stunning pickup for a Toronto team no longer running out of hope or defencemen<\/p>\n
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Published Dec 03, 2025 \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 Last updated 55\u00a0minutes ago \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 4 minute read<\/p>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n You can save this article by registering for free here<\/a>. Or sign-in<\/a> if you have an account.<\/p>\n The NHL guide lists Troy Stecher at 5-foot-10 and 184 pounds.<\/p>\n Advertisement 2<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY<\/p>\n Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.<\/p>\n Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account.Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on.Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists.Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.<\/p>\n SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES<\/p>\n Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.<\/p>\n Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account.Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on.Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists.Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.<\/p>\n REGISTER \/ SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES<\/p>\n Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.<\/p>\n Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.<\/p>\n THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK.<\/p>\n Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.<\/p>\n Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authors<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n The NHL guide lies.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n He might be 5-foot-9 when he\u2019s wearing his skates. He might weigh 184 if he\u2019s holding his skates while standing on the scale.<\/p>\n He is not the preferred size of Brad Treliving<\/a> or Craig Berube defencemen, but size and sense and logic and opportunity don\u2019t begin to define this confusing aspect of this confounding Maple Leafs season.<\/p>\n Stecher, 31, came to the Maple Leafs on waivers from the NHL team most in need of defensive help, the Edmonton Oilers<\/a>. So how does this make sense?<\/p>\n Stecher has made the rounds<\/p>\n He came to the Oilers after Vancouver tired of him and Detroit after that and then in order Los Angeles, Arizona and Calgary said thanks but no thanks to Stecher, who was waived so many times no one officially knows what the actual count is.<\/p>\n Your Midday Sun<\/p>\n Thanks for signing up!<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Advertisement 3<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Ten seasons of kicking around in the NHL has found Stecher, trying to hang on as a small man playing a big man\u2019s game, making his way across Canada, province by province, with stops in British Columbia, Alberta and now Ontario.<\/p>\n It\u2019s seven NHL stops in all. This was Tuesday night in Florida and Stecher was wearing the Maple Leafs colours on defence and quite possibly having the greatest individual night of his career.<\/p>\n He played 24 minutes and 26 seconds on defence for the Leafs. Those are all-star minutes for most defencemen.<\/p>\n Stecher played a ton, scored a seeing eye goal, assisted on another in a sound and impressive 4-1 win over the champion Panthers<\/a>. He has played more minutes in his career \u2014 maybe once \u2014 but never in a situation that mattered as much as this game mattered.<\/p>\n Advertisement 4<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Playing for the defensively inept Oilers, Stecher was just a guy. A disposable guy.<\/p>\n The last two games he played in Edmonton, he totalled 22 minutes of ice time.<\/p>\n He played more than that in Tuesday\u2019s win over Florida, playing a regular shift, getting some penalty killing time, being plus-four on a night the Leafs scored four goals.<\/p>\n Proving himself with Leafs<\/p>\n Yes, this is Troy Stecher.\u00a0Who doesn\u2019t fit what the Leafs think or believe in philosophically but has been a rather stunning pickup for a Toronto team no longer running out of hope or defencemen.<\/p>\n The Leafs scored four goals, and even more importantly, allowed just one goal against on Tuesday night in Sunrise. The same Leafs scored seven on Saturday night in Pittsburgh, allowed just two against the Penguins. On that night, Stecher played almost 24 minutes in partnership with Jake McCabe and wound up with an assist and a +3 distinction.<\/p>\n Advertisement 5<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n The Leafs season hasn\u2019t completely turned on a waiver acquisition but the pickup has more than helped. In Florida, Stecher scored the game\u2019s first goal, was in on the second goal by suddenly contributing Dakota Joshua<\/a>, and was on the ice when Scott Laughton scored his first goal of the season to basically provide the scoring that wasn\u2019t involving an empty net.<\/p>\n A goal by Stecher. A goal by Joshua. A goal by Laughton. Two assists from Bobby McMann, who has his second two-point game of the season. The first one came Saturday night.<\/p>\n Stuff is somehow working out for the Leafs right now and some of it is unexpected.<\/p>\n What coach Berube thinks<\/p>\n And the coach loves this kind of hockey, this kind of effort, this kind of pace, this kind of unexpected balance. It may not be pretty to watch but Berube hockey is hardly firewagon. More like fire station hockey.<\/p>\n Advertisement 6<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n The coach admits rather honestly that he didn\u2019t know much about Stecher when the Leafs grabbed him on waivers. He knew the name just as every coach knows the name of just about every player who has been around this long.<\/p>\n But you never really know a player until you have him. And he likes what he sees in Stecher, even if this a temporary blip of this Maple Leafs season. He likes the competitiveness of the player, the way he plays quickly, the way he moves the puck, the way he skates, the kind of energy he brings to the Toronto lineup.<\/p>\n These Leafs happen to love each other even if others may not share their internal bliss. The team was so happy for McMann\u2019s two assists, for the Laughton goal, for all Stecher has brought to the club, for another solid night from Joseph Woll in goal, for another Joshua score after such a dreadful start.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s huge,\u201d said Stecher, who has rarely been described that way in his career. Huge for the Leafs to be out of last place in the East and on their way to 13th in the Eastern Conference.<\/p>\n One step at a time.<\/p>\n![\"Toronto](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/CP175417812-2.jpg\")
Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman Troy Stecher (28) skates with the puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Florida Panthers, Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo\/Lynne Sladky)Article content<\/p>\n![\"Toronto](\"https:\/\/dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital\/20.1.2\/websites\/images\/identity\/logo-identity-tsun.svg\"){kind=logo}
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