Amidst the chaos of the sputtering Leafs, many have been expecting a roster move of some sort. With the team’s defensive struggles, the blueline has come under a harsh light, leading to lots of speculation that a move might be made.
Perhaps the speculations were true, as the Leafs claimed veteran right-shot defenceman Troy Stecher off waivers from the Edmonton Oilers. Let’s take a closer look at what Stecher brings to the ice and how he might impact the Leafs.
Who is Troy Stecher?
Undersized and without much offensive ability, understanding Stecher’s value does not come from goals or assists. While not the most physically imposing, Stecher plays a straightforward and responsible style of game that wins over coaches. Regardless of his regular season usage or his travels around the league, Stecher routinely finds his way into a regular spot during the biggest games.
Stecher is a willing battler, ready to take on bigger and stronger opponents or block shots. He keeps his decisions with the puck simple, relying on the glass or his defence partner to advance the puck. Though a rotational piece for his time in Edmonton, only injury could take Stecher from the Oilers playoff lineup last season. Many within or around the Oilers organization sang his praises, noting that size was the only thing keeping him from being a top-four shutdown defenceman.
Just as it has been before, the Oilers decided to waive Stecher amidst a roster crunch, hoping for greater upside elsewhere. While his physical limitations are clear, Stecher never cheats his effort or intentions. He knows what it takes for him to stay in the league, and fully embraces his role.
How he will fit in Toronto
As mentioned, the Leafs blueline has been under some scrutiny. Even at full health, the Leafs opt for playing Oliver Ekman-Larsson on his weak side, underscoring a lack of options on the right. Given that Chris Tanev is injured, some extra insurance on the right is understandable.
Some might even think that the weakest link is Simon Benoit, that adding a right shot who is better is the quickest way to upgrade the blueline as a whole. There is absolutely no guarantee that Stecher is an upgrade on Benoit or fellow right-shot Philippe Myers, but he does provide some insulation.
Benoit and Myers are, like Stecher, defensive defencemen. That said, they are opposites in a sense. Myers, for example, is much more physically impressive than Stecher. Myers has a clear edge in size, speed, and shooting. Somehow, though, Stecher is able to make up the difference in other ways. For a Leafs team seeking some stability, Stecher’s disposition could be important for the mental makeup of the team.
Stecher’s physical limitations, not to mention his undrafted status, make him an underdog. Undersized defencemen who stay in the NHL are often offensive dynamos, and Stecher is anything but. He has made a career out of being dependable, never cheating effort or attention to detail. These traits are exactly what many feel the Leafs are missing at the moment. Despite his stature seeming off-brand for the Brad Treliving and Craig Berube Leafs, his mental makeup is exactly what their coach and GM are looking for.
Will he be here long-term?
In the immediate future, the Leafs will be able to scratch one of their defencemen. Dakota Mermis seems the most likely, perhaps, as the left shot shares some traits with Stecher and has looked overwhelmed at times in the lineup.
With some return to health, Stecher might be able to challenge Myers or Benoit for their spots. Neither has had their best so far this season, though their time as a pairing does neither any favours. Stecher, like Benoit and Myers, appreciates a partner who can move the puck.
The difference is that Stecher might also require a partner with size who can handle physical in-zone battles. With the Oilers, Stecher did his best work alongside Darnell Nurse. While often criticized for his contract, Nurse is a rare combination of size, skating, and offensive ability. Stecher helped the duo calm things down, allowing Nurse to handle a lot of the puck-moving duties and the physical battles. There are better partners for Nurse, but fewer that could be as good a fit for Stecher.
Simply put, the Leafs do not have anyone as physically gifted as Nurse. Morgan Rielly or Oliver Ekman-Larsson could handle the puck-moving duties, but neither is as equipped to handle the burden of being the physical presence on a pairing. Instead, Jake McCabe might be the most likely long-term partner for Stecher, as McCabe brings some offensive viability alongside a physical edge.
Either way, the Leafs have nothing of anything resembling a Norris Trophy candidate. This puts them at a huge disadvantage versus the upper class of the league. The Leafs will need some synergy within their blueline to keep up. Stecher provides some flexibility to achieve that, if not at full health, then at least during the attrition of injury.
Benoit is inconsistent. He has periods of looking good as a 3rd but other periods of looking like a borderline AHLer. The Leafs need a solid 3rd all the time instead of him.