Troy Stecher, all 5-foot-10 and 184 pounds of him, has arrived in Toronto with a chip on his shoulder. Article content

That was the word on Monday from the Maple Leafs’ latest defenceman following his first practice at the Ford Performance Centre, where he was on a pairing with Dakota Mermis. Article content Article content

“Where do you want me to start?” Stecher said. “Being told ‘no’ my whole life, being a smaller guy. The NHL, it’s my 10th year, it’s my seventh team. I’m trying to prove people wrong, and more than anything, just prove myself right.”

Already, the new guy has set an example for a Leafs team that can’t string together enough components of sound hockey to win a game.

It shouldn’t be that way, but the Leafs right now are in such a bad spot that they’re on the verge

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