The Detroit Red Wings were among the busiest NHL teams in free-agency, bringing aboard several new faces to the team.
Among the new players that GM Steve Yzerman brought to the Motor City is defenseman Troy Stecher, who spent the first portion of his NHL career with the Vancouver Canucks.
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The defenseman described his excitement and optimism of joining hs new team, calling it a mutual interest between the two sides.
“It was a mutual interest between both groups (during free agency). Obviously with the organization, and myself as a player,” Stecher described earlier this month. “I like the age group of their core, with (Dylan) Larkin and (Anthony) Mantha and (Tyler) Bertuzzi. They're all kind of the same age as I am. Not overly old. I'm not young, but I have four years of experience in the league now. So, hopefully I can mesh well with the group.”
With his four years of NHL experience, Stecher is already familiar with a few of his new teammates in Alex Biega and Sam Gagner.
“I know ‘Bulldog' (Biega) really well,” Stecher said. “We sat together in the locker room in Vancouver for two years. I'm excited to be back with him. I know his wife, Diane, and their three boys. We follow them on Instagram, my girlfriend and me. We keep in touch with them. They're a great family. Same with Sam Gagner. I know their family quite well. I'm excited to see them again and spend some quality time.”
Of course, it certainly helps that Stecher's late father was a Red Wings fan while Troy was growing up in British Columbia, BC.
“I don't want to get too personal, but I lost my dad this year, and he was a diehard Red Wings fan, even though we're from here in Vancouver,” Stecher said. “I think a lot of people around his generation were, just with the success and the history that the organization has had. The amount of playoffs that they've made, and the Stanley Cups they've won. So, for me, I think it was a little message from my dad, kind of telling me that this was the place to be. I couldn't be more excited.”
– – Quotes via Brett McWethy of DetroitRedWings.com Link – –
