Detroit Red Wings Player Grades: The Final Four Report Cards
By Nate Brown
Troy Stecher
2021 Statline:
Games: 44
Goals: 3
Points: 11
CF%: 45.4
Preseason Projections
Solidify a defensive corps that needed immediate help.
2021 Season in a Nutshell
And that he did. Stecher was a revelation for the Red Wings–a stable defenseman who would also jump up into the play and often keep offensive plays alive. It’s been bewildering, then, when he’s talked about not being protected in the Expansion Draft, and also being a healthy scratch during the season. For further backup, his performance in the World Championships should be icing on the cake that Yzerman found tremendous value signing Stecher to the contract he did. With another year left, knowing that Filip Hronek, Stecher, and presumably Moritz Seider being on three pairings makes Wings fans sleep better at night.
Final Grade: A-
Yes. It’s deserving. Stecher not only was an upgrade on the blue line, his pairing with Marc Staal rejuvinated the veteran who was “dumped” to Detroit with a second round pick. It was hardly the case as Stecher and Staal provided to be one of the more steady parts of a team that struggled to find consistency. He was easily Yzerman’s best signing in the offseason and if the blue line is bolstered again this summer, they could quietly be a nice surprise when the puck drops for the 2021-22 season.