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.""

""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.""

Troy Stecher was claimed on waivers from the Edmonton Oilers in mid-November and immediately bolstered the Maple Leafs' defence. He had played for six different NHL teams before arriving in Toronto and stepped into heavy minutes while multiple Leafs defencemen were injured. Stecher scored the game-winning goal in a 4-2 victory over the Calgary Flames during a road trip that featured matchups against his former teams. He expressed affection for his previous clubs while emphasizing pride in being a Maple Leaf. Toronto faces a difficult playoff climb after a six-game losing streak, but Stecher and teammates maintain belief that a run remains possible.

Read at TheLeafsNation