Troy Stecher reveals the secret to his newfound success with the Maple Leafs

Troy Stecher has quickly found a home next to Jake McCabe on the Leafs' second pairing. The 31-year-old has four points in his last three games and has really turned his fortunes around.

Claimed off of waivers from the Edmonton Oilers in mid-November, Stecher was brought in amid injuries to Brandon Carlo and Chris Tanev.

The Leafs were short on right-handed defensemen and puck-movers on the blueline, and when Stecher became available, he became the perfect fit. Since that time, he has made the most of his opportunity.

Making stops in Edmonton, LA, Vancouver, Detroit, Arizona and Calgary before finding his way to Toronto, the undrafted free agent caught up with TSN's Mark Masters following a brief practice on Wednesday where he shared what has led to his impressive play since joining the Leafs.

His comment about leaving it all out on the ice and laying it on the line to preserve his NHL career has resonated with fans of the Leafs. That level of sacrifice and commitment is something that fans would like to see from more Leafs players.

Not only has he brought puck-moving and mobility to the Leafs' back-end, but he also plays with a level of compete and tenacity that has long been desired in Toronto. Not the biggest player at just 5-foot-10 and 184 pounds, Stecher doesn't shy away from the dirty areas or rough stuff behind the play or after the whistle. In fact, he even initiates some of it.

Hopefully, Stecher is able to continue to play at this level and produce like he has been, both on the scoresheet and all over the ice in all of the areas that a scoresheet cannot measure.