Oilers Acquire Troy Stecher from Coyotes for Fourth-Round Pick

For the second time in two trade deadline seasons, the Arizona Coyotes traded defenseman Troy Stecher to an NHL team in Alberta.

The Edmonton Oilers acquired Stecher and a 2024 seventh-round draft pick from the Coyotes in exchange for a fourth-round pick in 2027.

Stecher, a 29-year-old from Richmond, B.C., has four assists, five points, 67 shot blocks and 52 hits in 47 games this season. He averaged 18:26 in ice time per game with the Coyotes.

Last season, on trade deadline day, Arizona traded Stecher to the Calgary Flames with forward Nick Ritchie in exchange for forward Brett Ritchie and defenseman Connor Mackey. Stecher returned to the Coyotes on the first day of free agency by signing a one-year, $1.1-million contract.

The Oilers have a few options with how to play Stecher. He played about two minutes per game on the penalty kill with the Coyotes, but that penalty kill ranks 26th in the NHL. 

Stecher may be the Oilers' seventh defenseman, so the team has depth in its pursuit of a Stanley Cup championship. Edmonton's projected defense pairings for Thursday night's game against the Columbus Blue Jackets include Mattias Ekholm and Evan Bouchard, Darnell Nurse and Vincent Desharnais, and Brett Kulak and Cody Ceci.

Thursday's contest will also feature the Oilers debuts of newly acquired forwards Adam Henrique and Sam Carrick, whom Edmonton acquired from the Anaheim Ducks on Wednesday.

For more reaction, visit The Hockey News' Edmonton Oilers and Arizona Coyotes team sites.