Troy Stecher signed a two-year contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs on Monday. Financial terms were not disclosed.
The 32-year-old defenseman could have become an unrestricted free agent on July 1. He had 14 points (three goals, 11 assists) in 58 games for the Maple Leafs this season after being claimed off waivers from the Edmonton Oilers on Nov. 15.
"I stressed it in my exit interview through a couple different interviews in talking with the organization that I wanted to be back," Stecher said Tuesday. "There was a lot of change with the organization but my agent was in contact with them. That's why you have an agent, you just let them go to work, communicate with the organization and then they report back to you so when I got the news, I was obviously excited. That's what I wanted and what I hoped for so I couldn't be happier to get that across the finish line."
Signed by the Vancouver Canucks as an undrafted free agent April 13, 2016, Stecher has 131 points (25 goals, 106 assists) in 624 regular-season games for the Canucks, Detroit Red Wings, Los Angeles Kings, Arizona Coyotes, Calgary Flames, Oilers and Maple Leafs, and seven points (four goals, three assists) in 29 Stanley Cup Playoff games.
The Maple Leafs acquired Darren Raddysh from the Tampa Bay Lightning on June 19 for a fifth-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft. The defenseman signed an eight-year contract with Tampa Bay before being traded to Toronto. Defenseman Brandon Carlo was sent to the St. Louis Blues for two third-round picks (Nos. 73 and 76) in the 2026 draft, when the Maple Leafs selected forward Gavin McKenna with the No. 1 pick.
"There's a lot of aspects you could be excited about," Stecher said. "You look at the players we've already added. I don't want to speak out of turn but I'd imagine with July 1 around the corner, I'd imagine there will be more additions to be made so just as player to see the quality of guys we have, Raddysh and McKenna just off the top of my head, that's pretty exciting to add them to your group."
Toronto (32-36-14) failed to qualify for the playoffs for the first time since 2015-16.
"There's a lot of work to do as a player but in a way I'm proud of what I was able to accomplish," Stecher said. "It was just a good fit, there was multiple reasons behind it but at the end of the day I'm just glad to be back and help this team win some hockey games this year."
NHL.com independent correspondent Dave McCarthy contributed to this report
