This in from Edmonton Oilers insider Bob Stauffer, his speculation that the Edmonton Oilers are considering a major move on defence for Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final against the Florida Panthers, namely shifting out puck-moving John Klingberg in favour of stalwart defender Troy Stecher.
On his Oilers Now show today, Stauffer continually returned to this possibility, which I’ve already written would be an entirely reasonable move for the Oilers, given that Klingberg has been struggling on defence for the past two weeks, while Stecher helped solidify Edmonton’s defence, in particular helping to bring stability to Darnell Nurse’s game.
On a side note, Stauffer also wondered if scoring winger Jeff Skinner might check in for Game 4 against Florida, another move that makes sense, given how many wingers are playing hurt right now and struggling to create much on the attack, in particular Connor Brown and Trent Frederic.
Said Stauffer, the ultimate Oilers insider: “I wonder whether or not Skinner might make it in game number four as well.”
As for Stecher over Klingberg, Stauffer referred to Klingberg being on the ice for five of the eight even strength goals scored against Edmonton in the Florida series to date.
“Do I expect a change on the defense for Game 4? Yes,” Stauffer said, without specifying what exactly that change would be.
At other times in his show he said, “I can see Troy Stetcher coming in potentially for John Klingberg… Stecher does tend to settle down Darnell Nurse.”
Stauffer continued: “I do think there’s a possibility Stetcher plays just because, frankly, he kills it in the playoffs… He’s committed to everything that he does. He’s hard, firm, direct. And that’s how Florida plays. So we’ll see whether or not the Oilers make the change.”
And: “Troy Stetcher in 27 career playoff games is +16. He’s +3 in six games for the Oilers in the playoffs this year. The opposition has not scored an even strength goal when he’s on the ice. Maybe he’s been lucky. He could even kill penalties.”
At another point Stauffer asked guest Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet. “What about Stetcher for Klinberg? I would play Stetcher.”
“That’s a really tough call and not because of Stetcher,” Friedman said “I think it’s a really tough call because Klinberg’s been really good for you for along the way, right? Like, here’s the thing: I think at this point in time it’s important not to look like you’re panicking, right? If you make that move, do you think you’re coming across as panicking?:
“Not on defense,” Stauffer said. “No, I do not. Not to switch on D. I do not believe that’s a panic move. Because they’ve used him (Stecher). He’s already played a lot.”
Guest Rob Brown, a former NHL sniper, had praise for Stecher: “The thing that Stecher gives you is he gives you speed. He’s quick. I mean, he’s not Connor McDavid, but his feet never stop moving like Connor McDavid. When you’re playing against an incredibly aggressive forecheck — I know that is someone not big –but if you’re fast enough to get out of the way and make the play, you don’t need to be big. And Stecher has been small his whole life. He understands how to put himself in the right position defensively.”
My take
1. I’m a huge fan of John Klingberg’s game, but he has been in a defensive slump for the past six games, three against Florida and three in the last series against Dallas. Before that in his first 12 games of the 2025 playoffs, he was crushing it with his excellent puck-moving, strong point play in the o-zone and sound defence.
Perhaps he’s getting a bit worn down but he’s starting to leak Grade A shots against, making 17 individual mistakes on Grade A shots at even strength in the past six games after just 19 in the first 12 games.
trends Nurse Klingberg
2. Nurse has had his struggles in the 2025 playoffs, but since Mattias Ekholm returned to the line-up and Nurse lost Stecher as his partner, he’s had his worst stretch.
In his first nine games, often paired with Evan Bouchard, Nurse was OK-ish but struggled to move the puck effectively.
With Stecher as his partner — and with Stecher often going back fast to retrieve and advance pucks, while consistently playing his position in his own end — Nurse played his best hockey, especially when it came to his own puck moving. He still had some warts on defence but overall the partnership was strong. The Oilers scored two goals when they were on the ice and gave up not one.
But in the past four games, Nurse’s passing and defence have cratered. The Oilers need him at his best to win, and Nurse came close to that high mark in these playoffs when partnered with Stecher. Best to go back to that, even as Klingberg’s overall play in the 2025 playoffs has been at a nigher level than either that of Stecher or of Nurse.
At even strength, Evan Bouchard is killing it it he playoffs, Brett Kulak, Jake Walman and Mattias Ekholm are all playing solid two-way hockey, and Klingberg overall is just a cut below them.
But, again, he’s been leaky recently on defence, unlike Stecher who made the lowest rate of individual mistakes on Grade A shots against at even strength of any Oilers d-man in the 2025 playoffs. He’s been a bit better even than that defensive stalwart Brett Kulak.
dmen
At the Cult of Hockey
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