Playing career

Steckel was drafted by the Los Angeles Kings in the first round, 30th overall, in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft. Steckel played one full season with the US Junior National Team in the United States Hockey League before entering Ohio State University. He played four seasons with the Buckeyes hockey team, and then joined the American Hockey League's Manchester Monarchs for the 2004-05 season.

Steckel, a free agent, then signed with the Washington Capitals August 25, 2005, on the recommendation of Bruce Boudreau. He made his NHL debut with the Washington Capitals in the 2005-06 season, appearing in seven games. After appearing in five more games with the Capitals in 2006-07, he made the team's opening night roster in 2007-08.

Steckel proved himself to be a valuable commodity to the Capitals. He often centered the third line and was called on as a key member of the penalty kill. Steckel also proved himself very effective at face-offs, and typically was placed on the ice to take face-offs during critical moments of games. Near the end of the season, Steckel broke his finger blocking a shot and had to have pins put in. However, he missed very few games and was back on the ice during the playoffs.

Steckel's size and grit served the Capitals well, and it was expected that he would have an expanded role in the 2008-09 season. In the 2008-09 season Steckel was once again one of the Capitals top face-off men and one of their top penalty killers. He was 2nd on the team in shorthanded time-on-ice per game (first among forwards) with 3:48. On face-offs, he finished the season 5th in the NHL, winning 57.9% of his draws. He scored 8 goals and had 11 assists during the regular season. In the 2nd round of the 2009 playoff series against the Pittsburgh Penguins he scored his first-ever playoff game-winning goal in overtime of Game 6 to force a Game 7.

During the 2011 NHL Winter Classic on January 1, 2011, Steckel landed a shoulder check to the head of Pittsburgh's Sidney Crosby. Crosby experienced mild concussion symptoms and neck pain but remained in the game. A subsequent hit from Tampa Bay's Victor Hedman left Crosby with severe concussion symptoms and he did not return for the rest of the regular season, the 2010-11 Stanley Cup Playoffs, or the first twenty games of the 2011-12 NHL season. Hedman later said that he believed it was Steckel's hit which had caused Crosby's severe concussion, and many observers concurred that it was the hit from Steckel which indeed caused Crosby's head injury.

On February 28, 2011, Steckel along with Washington's 2012 2nd round pick was traded from the Capitals to the New Jersey Devils in exchange for Jason Arnott.

On October 4, 2011, Steckel was acquired by the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for a fourth round pick in 2012. In his only full season with the Maple Leafs, he contributed to the Leafs fourth line to match his career-high 8 goals for 13 points in 76 games.

During the 2012-13 season, Steckel was demoted to a reserve role. He sparingly appeared in 13 games before being traded on March 15, 2013, to the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for Ryan Lasch and a seventh-round pick in the 2014 draft. The trade reunited Steckel with former coach Bruce Boudreau. Steckel was re-signed by the Ducks for one more year on November 11, 2013. On December 12, 2013, the Ducks assigned Steckel to the Norfolk Admirals of the AHL.

On July 28, 2015, as a free agent, Steckel opted to sign his first contract abroad, agreeing to a one-year deal with German club, Thomas Sabo Ice Tigers of the DEL.

Career statistics

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1998-99	U.S. National Development Team	USDP		53	3	14	17	20		—	—	—	—	—
1999-00	U.S. National Development Team	USDP		58	15	18	33	108		—	—	—	—	—
2000-01	Ohio State University	CCHA		33	17	18	35	80		—	—	—	—	—
2001-02	Ohio State University	CCHA		36	6	16	22	75		—	—	—	—	—
2002-03	Ohio State University	CCHA		36	10	8	18	50		—	—	—	—	—
2003-04	Ohio State University	CCHA		41	17	13	30	44		—	—	—	—	—
2004-05	Reading Royals	ECHL		9	3	6	9	2		—	—	—	—	—
2004-05	Manchester Monarchs	AHL		63	10	7	17	26		6	1	1	2	4
2005-06	Hershey Bears	AHL		74	14	20	34	58		21	10	5	15	20
2005-06	Washington Capitals	NHL		7	0	0	0	0		—	—	—	—	—
2006-07	Hershey Bears	AHL		71	30	31	61	46		19	6	9	15	16
2006-07	Washington Capitals	NHL		5	0	0	0	2		—	—	—	—	—
2007-08	Washington Capitals	NHL		67	5	7	12	34		7	1	1	2	4
2008-09	Washington Capitals	NHL		76	8	11	19	34		14	3	2	5	4
2009-10	Washington Capitals	NHL		79	5	11	16	19		3	0	0	0	0
2010-11	Washington Capitals	NHL		57	5	6	11	24		—	—	—	—	—
2010-11	New Jersey Devils	NHL		18	1	0	1	2		—	—	—	—	—
2011-12	Toronto Maple Leafs	NHL		76	8	5	13	10		—	—	—	—	—
2012-13	Toronto Maple Leafs	NHL		13	0	1	1	0		—	—	—	—	—
2012-13	Anaheim Ducks	NHL		21	1	5	6	4		7	1	1	2	0
2013-14	Iowa Wild	AHL		4	1	1	2	4		—	—	—	—	—
2013-14	Norfolk Admirals	AHL		61	9	16	25	38		10	1	3	4	4
2013-14	Anaheim Ducks	NHL		6	0	0	0	0		—	—	—	—	—
2014-15	Norfolk Admirals	AHL		76	7	16	23	53		—	—	—	—	—
NHL totals				425	33	46	79	129		31	5	4	9	8

Awards and honors

Award	Year
All-CCHA Rookie Team	2000-01

[ Source: Wikipedia ]