How Maple Leafs' Troy Stecher has become crucial on the blue line

Troy Stecher arrived in Toronto with a chip on his shoulder when the Maple Leafs claimed him off waivers from the Edmonton Oilers in mid-November.

The 31-year-old noted that the Leafs were his seventh National Hockey League team in 10 years and that not only was he still trying to prove people wrong, he was trying to prove himself right.

He has done a hell of a job doing exactly that in his 21 games with the Leafs.

Waiver-wire pickups aren’t supposed to do much more than fill a hole, usually on a temporary basis.

Stecher has been a terrific fit in Toronto, whether it’s through his play or with the passion he has provided on a nightly basis.
The latest example came on Thursday night when Stecher scored the tying goal in the third period against the Winnipeg Jets in the Leafs’ enthralling 6-5 victory and led the club in ice time with 24 minutes 53 seconds.

And there was Stecher on the ice in the final seconds, helping keep the puck out of the Leafs’ net with a block on a shot by the Jets’ Gabe Vilardi.

“You take pride in trying to do the right things,” Stecher said. “I guess first and foremost as a defenceman you take pride in your own zone. Defensively, it feels a bit better, but it’s hard not to say it feels good to score goals.”

How has Stecher been crucial for the Leafs?

In the games Stecher has played for Toronto, the Leafs are 11-6-4 as they continue to fight their way up the Eastern Conference standings.

While we might not go so far as to wonder where the Leafs would be without him, Stecher’s overall performance has been crucial in the wake of injuries to defencemen Chris Tanev and Brandon Carlo.

The latter’s foot injury on Nov. 13 against Los Angeles precipitated the decision to claim Stecher. Once Carlo returns, and it will be soon, there’s no way Stecher comes out. That will fall on Philippe Myers, who had a rough outing on Thursday and played just 8 1/2 minutes.

Stecher has two goals and five assists with the Leafs and is plus-12.

It didn’t take him long to earn the trust of coach Craig Berube.

“He’s a very competitive player,” Berube said. “I didn’t know him that well before he got here, but being around the guy and watching him, he brings a lot of energy to the team.

“He’s getting a good opportunity here right now and he’s taking advantage of it. That’s what I see.”

That passion was evident not only after he scored at 13:13 of the third period against the Jets, firing a shot past goalie Eric Comrie after a pass from Bobby McMann, but also after he pumped up the home crowd after the Leafs beat the Ottawa Senators last Saturday.

“It fires the boys up,” McMann said “We’re definitely feeding off that energy and we love to see it.

“The first thing I noticed about him was his skating, and the intensity he plays with. He makes a lot of good first passes, he’s a good communicator on the ice.”

That puck-moving ability can’t be understated on a Leafs team that has had defensive-zone trouble.

Has Stecher surpassed his expectations in Toronto?

We have to admit we didn’t count on much from Stecher when he became available. If the Oilers thought that the native of Richmond, B.C., could help them, they would not have taken the chance of placing him on waivers.

On the outside, there’s no doubt Stecher has blown away projections. Certainly, few would have figured Stecher could contribute the way he has, especially in the big minutes he is getting. NHL journeymen don’t do what he has been doing.

“I never had any expectations,” Stecher said. “I just wanted to come here, and stabilize my career and try to help this team win hockey games. That’s my focus.

“And I think because of that, it has worked out for me as an individual player, and I feel like the best is coming out, but I’ll keep harping it: You have to turn the page. Tomorrow is a new day for myself and for our group.”

With that attitude, we don’t expect anything less from Stecher’s play going forward.

tkoshan@postmedia.com

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