The Vancouver Canucks didn’t make the Stanley Cup Playoffs this year, but for some former Canucks, the ultimate trophy in professional hockey is only four wins away. Two former Canucks will take part in the Edmonton Oilers’ second consecutive Stanley Cup Final appearance, with one having been a fan-favourite for pretty much his entire time with the Canucks organization.
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Troy Stecher is from Richmond, BC, and started his NHL career with his hometown team back in the 2016–17 season. Before this, he skated with the Penticton Vees from 2010 to 2013, taking on a leadership role in his final two seasons with the club. After, he spent three seasons at the University of North Dakota in the NCAA, the last of which he played with Canucks prospect at the time Brock Boeser.
Originally undrafted, Stecher signed his first NHL contract with the Canucks back in April of 2016. He started the 2016–17 season with Vancouver’s AHL affiliate at the time, the Utica Comets, but was quickly called up and has remained in the NHL ever since. Stecher made a lasting impression on the fanbase only four games into his rookie season after he was nearly taken out by Toronto Maple Leafs forward Matt Martin. However, Vancouver’s goaltender at the time, Ryan Miller, quickly stepped in to help out the young defenceman. Later on in the season, Stecher was the victim of an April Fool’s Day prank that saw him skating on a line with Daniel and Henrik Sedin during practice.
When @troystecher arrived at practice Saturday, he had been moved to forward. With the Sedins.
— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) April 1, 2017
Stech forgot it's #aprilfoolsday... pic.twitter.com/KBz9hUljYU
Stecher remained with the team throughout a quick roster turnaround that saw them pick up star prospect after star prospect. He was with the team when all three of Boeser, Elias Pettersson, and Quinn Hughes made their NHL debuts. As well, he played with a defensive core that featured members of the Canucks 2011 Stanley Cup run in Alex Edler and Chris Tanev. Because of this, he could have easily become a mainstay in the Canucks core moving forward. However, after Vancouver failed to qualify him following the 2019–20 Bubble Playoffs, Stecher found himself signing with the Detroit Red Wings.
From 2020 to 2022, Stecher played in 60 games with the Red Wings, putting up four goals and nine assists in this span of time. He also joined Team Canada during the 2021 World Championship, helping his home country to their third gold medal in six years at the time. After playing 16 games with Detroit in the 2021–22 season, he was traded to the L.A. Kings for a seventh-round pick in the 2022 NHL Draft. He played his first postseason matches in front of a live audience with the Kings, tallying two goals and two assists in four games.
Stecher flip-flopped between the Arizona Coyotes and the Calgary Flames before he ended up with the Oilers in the 2023–24 season via trade. Last season, he only played seven games for Edmonton and ultimately didn’t dress for any of their playoff matches due to ankle surgery. With changes hitting the Oilers throughout the off-season, Stecher found his way into the lineup and played in 66 regular season games, potting three goals and four assists. Injuries and lineup shifts forced him out to start the 2025 postseason, but in Mid-May, he was able to make his Oilers playoff debut against the Vegas Golden Knights. While the return of Mattias Ekholm to Edmonton’s lineup has taken Stecher off the bench, the defender has effectively contributed when needed and has earned himself a Stanley Cup Final appearance without a doubt.
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