Oilers Trying to Find “Soft Landing” Trade For Popular Defenseman

The Edmonton Oilers are reportedly looking to move veteran defenseman Troy Stecher, with Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman noting the team is seeking a “soft landing” for the popular blueliner. A beloved and reliable defenseman, Stecher is an extra on most nights for the Oilers, and with some tough roster decisions coming, a trade might make the most sense.

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The Oilers suddenly find themselves with a surplus on defense as several players — including Alec Regula are coming back to the roster in the next week. Stecher, 31, has been a reliable depth option since being acquired, appearing in 79 regular-season games and eight playoff contests for Edmonton.

A pending unrestricted free agent carrying a $787,500 cap hit, Stecher has provided steady, low-risk minutes. He’s not the best at any one thing, but he’s steady, which would make him a potentially popular trade option for a team looking for solid defensive play at a low price. He’s unlikely to win a spot in Edmonton over Regula and Ty Emberson, so the Oilers appear ready to give them more opportunity on another team.

If the Oilers move on from Stecher, don’t expect a big return. First, he would have to clear waivers, meaning any interested team could simply wait for Stecher to be demoted and pick him up for free. However, because the Oilers want to ensure Stecher winds up on a good team where he might want to play, they’ll take almost nothing to make a deal to a preferred destination.

The goal, as Friedman put it, is to “find him a soft landing”. While he lacks trade protection, in a situation like this, that doesn’t really matter.

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