The Detroit Red Wings have traded defenseman Troy Stecher to the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for a seventh-round pick.

The trade market is heating up ahead of Monday's deadline. 

The Los Angeles Kings got in on the fun on Sunday afternoon, acquiring defenseman Troy Stecher from the Detroit Red Wings in exchange for a seventh-round pick in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft. 

Stecher is an intriguing right-shot defender who brought his track record of decent underlying numbers to Detroit with him after leaving the Vancouver Canucks as a free agent in 2020. 

The 27-year-old has unfortunately struggled in his year-and-a-half as a Red Wing, posting a mere 11 points in 44 games in the 2021 season before being limited to just 16 games total in this current campaign thanks to a wrist injury sustained in early November. 

Clearly, Stecher needed a fresh start to revive his once-promising career. And the Kings, who are just about to exit their rebuild, can give him one. 

Despite his recent struggles, it's surprising to see Stecher move for such a small price. With the market seemingly tilted towards the teams that are selling this year, one would assume that a player of Stecher's caliber, who shoots right and has a reputation as a decent puck-mover, would fetch something higher than a seventh-round pick. 

That he could be had for such a pittance seems to speak volumes as to how far his value has fallen. 

The Red Wings will now focus on building their blueline with the $1.7 million in cap space that Stecher's departure grants them, while the Kings hope to find value in an asset that once had quite a bit.