Oilers defenceman Troy Stecher might draw short straw if Mattias Ekholm returns but that's fine with him
When an NHL player is hurt in the postseason, the hoary cliché is 'next man up,' but when you're the ultimate battler, Troy Stecher, and you have been that next man until, uh, the first man Mattias Ekholm looks like he's coming back, then what?
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'He's a better player than me, that's the reality of the world and the business we live in,' said Stecher, the Edmonton Oiler defender, who's never been a moper or a griper, just a teammate whose head is firmly wrapped around the obvious, that Ekholm, who may return for Game 4 against Dallas, is one of the NHL's best defencemen.
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'He's probably our 1a or 1b, depending on how you look at Bouch (Evan Bouchard), one, what the public thinks he is. He's an elite defenceman in this league. He played in the 4 Nations, he's played for Team Sweden. He's been to the Cup final in Nashville (and here last spring). If healthy, I want him playing. Yeah, if I'm out, I will be disappointed, but he gives us a better chance to win,' said Stecher.
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'I want to win a Stanley Cup, man. I don't want to talk poorly, but my time in Vancouver wasn't very good, we weren't very good in Arizona or Detroit. I just want to play on a contender… obviously I want to be in the line-up but at the end of the day, it's not my decision,' said Stecher.
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Nope. If Ekholm, who hasn't played any of the Oilers' playoff games, and none since April 11 against the San Jose Sharks here, returns Tuesday, it will be head coach Kris Knoblauch's call, along with Paul Coffey, who handles the defence.
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Stecher has been excellent as Darnell Nurse's partner, but he could draw the short straw if they decide Ekholm is ready and they go with six D. Or, maybe they act prudently and go with seven D and 11 forwards, and give Ekholm limited minutes to see how he is after significant undisclosed lower-body injury.
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Stecher, a small guy (184 lbs.) with a big heart like Kris Russell when he was here, has battled his lack of size for close to 600 NHL games. He's had a chip on his shoulder, as he should, because smaller players always have to prove they can play while big guys have to prove they can't in the coach's eyes.
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'Yeah, that's fair. I wouldn't have it any other way. There's no bad days in this league. I love what I do. Some days I maybe worry about my spot or my role. There were probably some long nights in regular season where I went home and was pretty concerned. But you wake up the next morning, put your hard hat and your work boots on, and you get to the rink,' he said.
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The Province
21 minutes ago
- The Province
Edmonton Oilers' Skinner relishes rematch against Florida Panthers' Bobrovsky
Stuart Skinner #74 of the Edmonton Oilers speaks with the media prior to the start of the 2025 NHL Stanley Cup Final against the Florida Panthers at Rogers Place on June 03, 2025 in Edmonton, Alberta. Photo by Bruce Bennett / Getty Images So it's Bob vs. Stu once again. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. 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Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Florida's Sergei Bobrovsky, 36, with his two Vezina trophies, his Stanley Cup ring and his 429 career regular-season wins, 10th most all-time. And at the other end of the ice we bring you Edmonton's decade-younger Stuart Skinner, 26, with his 104 wins and craving a manhole-sized championship ring on his big hands. Last June it was a mixed bag for both goalies in the Stanley Cup Final matchup. Bobrovsky, the fastest goalie in history to reach 400 total wins, in just 707 games, beating Henrik Lundqvist's 727, stopped 50 of the first 51 Oiler shots in Games 1-2 of the 2024 playoff in Florida and only gave up four goals in the first three Panthers wins. He looked unflappable, certainly on shots along the ice, and then he crashed and almost burned, giving up 15 in three straight losses to the Oilers before reverting to form in Game 7 in Florida and giving up just Mattias Janmark's breakaway in the first period. Skinner was beaten nine times in the first three games, all losses, but just five times in games 4-6, all Oilers routs, before only Carter Verhaeghe and Sam Reinhart scored in the Game 7, 2-1 Panthers' win. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. In the series, Skinner actually had better numbers. He lost the game that counted most but he had a .909 save percentage through seven games, so certainly gave his Oiler team a chance at the big prize. Bobrovsky, more up and down, was .899. But Bobrovsky won the last game and was smiling in the handshake line while Skinner was trying to mask his disappointment and not doing too well at it. 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But we've got a lot of work to do,' said Skinner. Did he replay Game 7 in his mind? Yes. But he also watched it again. 'Yeah, great game. I watched it again to get the emotions out of it,' he said. 'As a goalie my perspective is to give your team a chance to win. We kept it at one. That's just not me, it's our D, our forwards tracking back. But again, it's hockey. You need a bit of luck to win it,' said Skinner, who will try to change the script this time around. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'It was amazing playing against Bobrovsky last year. How old is he again? I mean, he's one of the best goalies in the world, he's been in the Stanley Cup Final now, three years in a row. Impressive goalie, skates well, technically I don't think there's much wrong with him, or anything wrong from my perspective. Nothing but love for him and excited to play him again,' he said. 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Winnipeg Free Press
36 minutes ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
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Global News
37 minutes ago
- Global News
IN PHOTOS: Edmonton Oilers practise day before Game 1 of Stanley Cup final
See more sharing options Send this page to someone via email Share this item on Twitter Share this item via WhatsApp Share this item on Facebook The Edmonton Oilers held practice and spoke to the media Tuesday, before Game 1 of the Stanley Cup final against the Florida Panthers on Wednesday at Rogers Place in Edmonton. View the photo gallery below to see some scenes from the practice and media day. View full screen View full screen View full screen View full screen View full screen View full screen View full screen View full screen View full screen View full screen Previous Image Next Image Close Modal Gallery Story continues below advertisement Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy
