The Toronto Maple Leafs may have found something on the ice in newcomer Troy Stecher, which means off the ice, general manager Brad Treliving could be changing his direction during trade conversations.

Stecher has been everything the Leafs could have hoped for, and so much more, since arriving as a waiver wire pickup from the Edmonton Oilers. It may have taken him a game or two to get comfortable in a new system, but of late, Stecher’s been one of Toronto’s most important players. He’s recorded four points in his last four games, he’s formed an effective pair with Jake McCabe, and Stecher’s been eating up minutes, much like you’d see out of a number-one defenseman. The mobile right-handed blueliner skated a team high 24:23 in Carolina on Thursday, and he’s averaged over 24 minutes per game his last three contests. Needless to say, it feels like Stecher has arrived for the Maple Leafs, and now Treliving has more options to work with.

Before Stecher was in the mix, there were rumblings the Maple Leafs were searching for a right-handed defenceman to complement their group. While Treliving would be wise to find a long-term fixture to take over their power-play quarterback, the importance of finding another blueliner has decreased significantly since Stecher’s arrived on the scene. Having him and McCabe form such an effective tandem gives Berube a chance to play Chris Tanev with Morgan Rielly, once Tanev returns to the ice. Throw in Oliver Ekman-Larsson, and eventually, a healthy Brandon Carlo, and the Leafs’ blueline isn’t in as many shambles as people think.

Unfortunately, the injuries have taken a toll, and it’s hard to say exactly when Carlo, or Tanev will be back on the ice. But, with the strong play of Stecher unfolding for the Maple Leafs, Treliving doesn’t have to make a panic move to try and upgrade his blueline, and can focus on upgrading his forwards.

All of the trade energy for the Maple Leafs should be going towards finding a new home for Matias Maccelli, and figuring out exactly if Max Domi is going to play first-line right-wing the entire season, or if that’s the position of focus for Treliving and company to zone in on.

Maccelli’s been extremely inconsistent, his effort can be questionable at times, and recently he’s been suited up in the press box. Given the fact he had 57 points two seasons ago, is 25 years old, and is a pending restricted free agent, it should give Treliving a little bit of substance to try and entice opposing GM’s.

With how effective the third line has been, it’s become obvious the Maple Leafs have something there. Scott Laughton has been much better recently, and is starting to look like his Philly-self. Nick Robertson and Easton Cowan both look like they deserve to be in the lineup on a nightly basis. Treliving would be wise to see if he can land a right-handed winger who can play throughout the middle-six, and give Berube another option for the first-line right-wing slot, as Domi’s been strong of late, but he’s been very inconsistent this season. Surely, it’s something the team is monitoring, as there’s potential Treliving pulls the trigger on a deal ahead of December’s holiday roster freeze.

While Domi and Maccelli can continue to be circled as potential targets to upgrade, Treliving doesn’t need to worry about finding another veteran defenseman at the moment. Troy Stecher has brought a tremendous work ethic, great speed, serious tenacity, and his forming chemistry with McCabe is something the team needs to build on.

Treliving should be working the phones, as the Leafs are still on the outside looking in at the playoff picture, and it’s obvious they’re far from a finished package. However, the focus should be on the forwards and not the blue line. Stecher is making a serious impact on the ice, and it should be influencing Treliving’s conversations off the ice.

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