Toronto Maple Leafs goalie throws shade at Edmonton Oilers management
The Toronto Maple Leafs may be falling out of playoff contention, but they’re still finding ways to chirp the Edmonton Oilers.
Things haven’t been going great for the Leafs, but former Oilers defenceman Troy Stecher has been a bright spot for the club. The veteran defender has become an NHL regular in Toronto and one of the team’s most reliable players on the blue line.
Stecher came up big in Toronto’s 4-2 victory over the Calgary Flames on Monday night, notching the eventual game-winning goal. After the game, Leafs goalie Joseph Woll praised Stecher and sent a chirp to Oilers management.
“Stech is stepping up and getting a big goal for us,” Woll told reporters. “Thank god Edmonton let him go. He’s such an unbelievable player. He’s a great guy, so I really enjoy having him here.
“He’s a great player on the ice, and I trust him a lot back there.”
🎙️ | Joseph Woll | Post Game vs. Calgary Flames | Feb 2 pic.twitter.com/ftxCKO5kJD
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) February 3, 2026
Stecher spent parts of the last three seasons with the Oilers before being put on waivers back in November. At the time, it didn’t seem like a major move for Edmonton to lose a depth defender like him, but that may be changing a bit.
The Oilers have been having some defensive issues over the past few weeks and desperately need to lock things down in their own end. While Stecher may not be a world-beating defender, he’s proven to be a steady presence on the Maple Leafs blue line through his first 37 games in Toronto.
Meanwhile, the Oilers are relying on some younger depth defenders like Spencer Statsney, Alec Regula, and Ty Emberson to figure things out. Losing Stecher is not going to make or break Edmonton’s season by any means, but he could have helped their current situation.
Oilers fans will have a chance to welcome Stecher back to the Alberta capital on Tuesday night as the Leafs take on Edmonton in the final game of the season series.