Darnell Nurse's former partner thriving after leaving Oilers: 'Perfect storm'
Darnell Nurse's former partner, Troy Stecher, seems to be finding unbelievable success in Toronto, and all it took was a change of scenery and a new linemate.
Troy Stecher, waived last month by the Edmonton Oilers, is making waves in Toronto, skating up to the top pairing with Jake McCabe and scoring a big goal while finishing +4 in the Leafs' impressive Tuesday night win over the Florida Panthers.
Though Stecher, 31, is still considered a journeyman defenseman, Toronto pundits have quickly developed an appreciation for his play.
He joins a growing list of former partners of Edmonton Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse who have thrived after leaving Edmonton, whether on the ice, financially, or both.
Cody Ceci, Vincent Desharnais, and Philip Broberg all fall into that same category.
'Perfect storm': "Darnell Nurse's ex-partner hailed as a game-changer in Toronto."
- David Staples
- David Staples
On the Real Kyper and Bourne show, hosts Nick Kypreos, Justin Bourne, and Sam McKee praised Stecher's performance, while also noting caution.
What the Leafs are doing with the puck now that they have Troy Stecher
McKee highlighted how the Leafs now move the puck more efficiently, crediting Stecher's direct and smart passing, something regularly seen during his time in Edmonton.
"He's changed the back end, which is insane," McKee said.
"He's a waiver claim and I think they're asking all they possibly can out of him," McKee continued. "But his style has changed them from the back and he's played the second most minutes."
"He's a waiver claim and I think they're asking all they possibly can out of him," McKee continued. "But his style has changed them from the back and he's played the second most minutes."
Kypreos speculated on the longevity of the top pairing of Stecher and McCabe, and Bourne called the Leafs' transformation fascinating.
"He's got mobility. He's got quickness. He's got a lot of things that they didn't show the first 20 games."
"For Stecher and the Leafs, it was the perfect storm in terms of both of them needing something that they could each provide Again, I don't know how long it can last. This is a guy that he said he's on his seventh team. So he comes in, he fills a certain void, but once the team gets maybe healthy or they just look at bigger, stronger, younger prospects, he gets pushed out. But he's a legitimate sixth or seventh defenseman right now in the NHL, I would think, and on a team like Toronto, it's much higher."
"For Stecher and the Leafs, it was the perfect storm in terms of both of them needing something that they could each provide Again, I don't know how long it can last. This is a guy that he said he's on his seventh team. So he comes in, he fills a certain void, but once the team gets maybe healthy or they just look at bigger, stronger, younger prospects, he gets pushed out. But he's a legitimate sixth or seventh defenseman right now in the NHL, I would think, and on a team like Toronto, it's much higher."
Stecher's struggles in Edmonton early this season were partly due to Darnell Nurse's inconsistent play. In fact, the last two playoff seasons paired with Nurse became difficult for many Oilers defensemen, even as they tried to succeed.
Why Troy Stecher was known as the "Nurse whisperer"
Stecher's smart, direct style, retrieving pucks and immediately making clean outlet passes, was evident in Edmonton and has carried over in Toronto. He was known as the "Nurse Whisperer," the player who consistently got the best out of Nurse.
Their chemistry helped Nurse have his best regular season, and their playoff success continued until the Oilers fell short against Florida.
Stecher's resurgence in Toronto shows that leaving Edmonton or possibly getting away from Nurse can be the key to unlocking full potential.
| POLL | ||
DECEMBRE 4 | 97 ANSWERS Darnell Nurse's former partner thriving after leaving Oilers: 'Perfect storm' Is Darnell Nurse holding back his linemates? | ||
| Yes | 86 | 88.7 % |
| No | 11 | 11.3 % |
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