"The Toronto Maple Leafs surprised the hockey world by claiming Troy Stecher from the Edmonton Oilers after the blueliner hit waivers earlier this week. When looking at the current state of the Leafs' blue line, the deal made sense. The Maple Leafs needed a right-shot defenseman with Chris Tanev and Brandon Carlo on the shelf. For better or worse, Stecher is an experienced NHL defenseman who's been on two long playoff runs the last couple of seasons."
"He was tough on the puck and even got a shot on net in 13:31 of ice time. It's natural to assume that Craig Berube wasn't going to throw him into the fire in his first game. But judging from what we saw, Stecher could make Brandon Carlo expendable. The reason behind that assertion is that the Maple Leafs need a solid, defensive right-shot defenseman who can come in and stabilize the blue line."
"Maple Leafs could move Carlo with Stecher on board One of the prevailing thoughts has been that the Maple Leafs are looking to shake things up by moving current roster players. One of the players on the bubble has been Carlo. However, GM Brad Treliving might have bit his tongue on trading Carlo, given the need for a right-shot defensive defenseman."
The Maple Leafs claimed Troy Stecher off waivers from the Edmonton Oilers to address an immediate need for a right-shot defenseman after Chris Tanev and Brandon Carlo entered the injured list. Stecher brings NHL experience and recent deep playoff experience, offering steadiness rather than flashy plays. In his debut against the St. Louis Blues he logged 13:31 and played a physical, puck-first game while avoiding major mistakes. That steadiness could allow Stecher to fill defensive, situational roles and stabilize the right side. If Stecher consistently outperforms Brandon Carlo, the team could consider moving Carlo for assets, depending on market value and roster needs.
Read at Editor In Leaf
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