Let’s learn what the Oilers have in Troy Stecher

Yesterday, the Oilers made a smaller move by acquiring Troy Stecher from the Arizona Coyotes for a fourth-round pick in 2027. This trade, which I consider a steal, has the potential to greatly strengthen the Oilers’ depth on defence, and that made me want to figure out what kind of player Stecher is and what he’ll be bringing to Edmonton.

If you Google Stecher’s name to read what’s been written about him over the years, you see that he’s a skilled two-way defenceman with a playmaker’s knack for the game. Stecher is known to be responsible defensively but is not comfortable having the puck in his own end for too long and will take it upon himself to get the puck out of the defensive zone. All of that sounds good when you read it, but I wanted to talk to someone who has actually watched him play.

That’s when I realized that Stecher had a significant stint in Vancouver, playing 286 games with the Canucks over parts of four seasons. And since we’ve got Canucksarmy.com just sitting there, I reached out to their managing editor, David Quadrelli, to find out what kind of defender the Oilers just acquired and how he might fit into their lineup.

Baggedmilk: The Oilers need defencemen who can move the puck up the ice but can also hold it down in their own end. What does Stecher do well on defence?

David Quadrelli: Stecher moves the puck exceptionally well. He’s a solid skater, has a high hockey IQ, and his work rate is noticeable right away. He doesn’t back down from anybody or any challenge in the corner or along the walls. He’s adept at breaking opposing forechecks and, in Vancouver, was more than capable of holding down a top-four role. He is awesome depth for Edmonton.

BM: That sounds pretty good to me, but what about his weaknesses? Why was he basically a free pickup?

Quads: The one “weakness” for Stecher is probably his in-zone defending. He’s positionally sound and everything that you’d want from a third pairing guy, but simply due to being a bit of a smaller guy, he can sometimes lose net-front battles.

BM: If you’re Kris Knoblauch and Paul Coffey, how would you use him in the lineup?

Quads: I think you give him a look down the stretch and see. I could very possibly see him outplaying Desharnais or Ceci and taking one of those guys’ spots in the lineup. He’s capable of playing with almost anyone, and like I said, there is legit top four capability there.

BM: Is Stecher only a depth piece or is he better than some Oilers fans may think?

Quads: For now, he’s a depth piece. I’d be silly to come out and see he’s unequivocally better than Ceci or Desharnais, but that’s the good thing about depth — Stecher’s arrival is going to create some serious internal competition on the Oilers’ blue line and as I said, could certainly challenge for an everyday spot.

WHAT ELSE SHOULD WE KNOW?