It appears the Edmonton Oilers are bringing back veteran defenceman Troy Stecher, according to a new report by Vancouver hockey insider Rick Dhaliwal.
Stecher, 30, split the 2023-24 season between the Oilers and Arizona Coyotes, collecting one goal and seven points while averaging 18:07 of ice time in 54 games played.
The Oilers acquired Stecher and 2024 seventh-round draft pick from the Coyotes ahead of the 2024 trade deadline in exchange for a fourth-round pick in the 2027 NHL Draft. Stecher appeared in seven games with the Oilers down the stretch, picking up two assists.
However, Stecher was unable to play for the Oilers during their run to the 2024 Stanley Cup Final as he recovered from an ankle injury that required surgery. The 5’10” right-handed defenceman was around the team off the ice throughout the playoffs but did not dress for a single game.
The terms of Stecher’s new contract with the Oilers have not yet been released.
The Oilers have been extremely active in the free agent market in the eight hours since it opened, bringing in Viktor Arvidsson, Jeff Skinner, and Josh Brown and re-signing Mattias Janmark, Corey Perry, Connor Brown, Stecher, and a number of organizational depth players.
An undrafted player, Stecher signed his first NHL contract with the Vancouver Canucks in 2016 after completing an excellent three-year NCAA playing career at the University of North Dakota.
The Richmond, B.C. product almost immediately established himself as an NHL regular in Vancouver, spending four full seasons with his hometown team before joining the Detroit Red Wings as a UFA in 2020.
After that, Stecher made brief stops with the Los Angeles Kings, Coyotes (twice), and Calgary Flames before finally arriving in Edmonton earlier this year. He’ll provide some much-needed veteran depth for this Oilers team in the 2024-25 season.
In addition to Stecher, the Oilers have Evan Bouchard, Mattias Ekholm, Darnell Nurse, Cody Ceci, Brett Kulak, and Josh Brown under contract on defence for the upcoming season. The Oilers also still need to come to terms with RFA Philip Broberg on a new deal.
