Troy Stecher is on the verge of suiting up for the fourth Canadian NHL team of his career.
On Saturday, the Toronto Maple Leafs claimed the 31-year-old defenceman off waivers from the Edmonton Oilers.
This is now the seventh NHL team that Stecher has joined throughout his 10-year NHL career. The Richmond, B.C. native was originally signed as an undrafted free agent by the Vancouver Canucks back in 2016, where he spent the first four years of his career.
Since then, the 5-foot-10 defenceman has made stops with the Detroit Red Wings, Los Angeles Kings, Arizona Coyotes, Calgary Flames, along with the Oilers.
Stecher suited up in 66 regular-season games for the Oilers last season. He also appeared in eight playoff games for Edmonton.
The Maple Leafs are short one of their top defencemen, Chris Tanev, after he was stretchered off the ice during a 5-2 win over the Philadelphia Flyers back on Saturday, Nov. 1.
That was Tanev’s first game back from injury after he was hurt back on Oct. 21 against the New Jersey Devils.
The Maple Leafs have been short a top-four defenceman with Chris Tanev absent from their lineup. (Nick Turchiaro/Imagn Images)
Right-shot defenceman Philippe Myers has drawn into the lineup with Tanev out. However, Myers’ ice time plummeted to a season-low 10:31 during Tuesday’s 5-3 loss to the Boston Bruins.
The Leafs may see Stecher as an upgrade on Myers on their bottom pairing.
So far this season, Stecher has appeared in six of the Oilers’ 19 games, and he’s yet to register a point. He hasn’t played since Oct. 30, as Edmonton chose to put Alex Regula back into the lineup after he returned from injury.
The Oilers also had to shuffle their 23-man roster with the long-awaited return of Zach Hyman to their lineup.
With Stecher joining the Maple Leafs, he will become the second active player to suit up for four Canadian teams. The other is Tyler Toffoli, who has played for the Canucks, Flames, Winnipeg Jets, and Toronto Maple Leafs throughout his career.
Michael Petit and Bobbie Dollas hold the NHL record of being in the lineup for five Canadian teams throughout their careers.