Stecher’s waiver claim draws attention from Oilers and Maple Leafs fans – The Hockey Writers Latest news, analysis and more

On Saturday afternoon, the Edmonton Oilers lost one of their fan favorites, Troy Stecher. That was him claimed on exemptions by the Toronto Maple Leafs, who are adding a depth defenseman to their roster.

Related: Maple Leafs Claim Stecher Off Waivers, Place Stolarz on IR

However, after he was claimed and joined the Maple Leafs, many members of the fanbase and media took to social media to talk about his departure from the Oilers and his new opportunity in Toronto.

Hockey World responds to Stecher’s waiver claim

It’s not every day that a large group of media members and fans react to deep defensemen being placed on waivers. However, it does speak to the impact he had in the Oilers locker room.

As soon as he was claimed, many stopped by to give their opinions on the waiver claim and how good Stecher is.

Some of the notable people who responded to the roster move included Bob Stauffer, Mark Spector and Jim Matheson. They all wrote about it from an Oilers perspective and how much of a fighter he has been during his 566-game career.

There were some reporters from outside the Oilers fan base who also reacted to the news. Some of the notable people were Mike Kelly and Steve Dangelwho said they were looking forward to seeing him with the Maple Leafs.

Related: NHL Morning Recap – November 16, 2025

Stecher is a true NHL pro, he’s been around the block a few times. He is now on the seventh team of his NHL career and this is his second time playing for Maple Leafs general manager Brad Treliving. He was acquired during his time with the Calgary Flames and played in 20 games with the club. He also played for the Vancouver Canucks, Detroit Red Wings, Arizona Coyotes and Los Angeles Kings, appearing in 556 career games and scoring 117 points. Regardless of his point production, he has made a name for himself as a fan favorite and a great locker room guy.

It will be interesting to see how he fares during his time with the Maple Leafs. It seems like the team is very interested in bringing him in, especially considering he’s a right-handed defenseman who can provide a lot of depth of experience to their blue line.