Edmonton Oilers lose Stecher on waivers to another Canadian NHL team

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, and Calgary Flames, in addition to the Oilers.

Stecher suited up in 66 regular-season games for the Oilers last season. He also appeared in eight playoff games.

The Maple Leafs are short one of their top defencemen, after Chris Tanev was stretchered off the ice during a 5-2 win over the Philadelphia Flyers on Nov. 1.

That was Tanev’s first game back from injury after he was hurt on Oct. 21 against the New Jersey Devils.

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.

Stecher has appeared in six of the Oilers’ 19 games this season and has 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.

Michel Petit and Bobby Dollas hold the NHL record of being in the lineup for five Canadian teams throughout their careers.