Will Stecher and Gagner Have Their Names on the Stanley Cup if the Oilers Win Game 7?
Richmond’s Troy Stecher is the only former Vancouver Canuck on the Edmonton Oilers’ current roster. Ideally, Canucks fans would see former players from their team on both sides in the 2024 Stanley Cup Final.
The Florida Panthers feature several former Canucks connections. Oliver Ekman-Larsson, who was released from his hefty Canucks contract, plays on the Panthers’ third pairing. Gustav Forsling, a fifth-round Canucks draft pick in 2014, now logs significant minutes as the Panthers’ top defenseman. Hall of Fame goalie Roberto Luongo, a Canucks legend, oversees the team from the press box as part of the Hockey Operations team.
The Oilers were expected to have more former Canucks. Although assistant coach Glen Gulutzan, who coached with the Canucks from 2013 to 2016, is part of the team, the only recent addition from the Canucks was at the trade deadline. The Oilers traded for Troy Stecher, who previously played 286 games for the Canucks. Unfortunately, Stecher has not played in the playoffs due to ankle surgery for an infected cyst.
Sam Gagner, who played 81 games for the Canucks and 28 for the Oilers this season, has also not participated in the playoffs. Despite this, both Stecher and Gagner remain part of the team.
Should the Oilers win Game 7 against the Panthers, Stecher and Gagner will be Stanley Cup Champions. However, their names might not be engraved on the Cup. The NHL allows a maximum of 55 names, including players, coaches, and management. Players must have played in at least half the regular season games or at least one Stanley Cup Final game to qualify automatically. Stecher played seven games post-trade; Gagner played 28.
The NHL allows teams to petition for players to be included under “extenuating circumstances.” Whether the Oilers will petition for Stecher and Gagner remains uncertain.
Even if their names aren’t on the Cup, both players could still enjoy a day with it, as is customary. Stecher might bring it back to Richmond, while other Oilers with B.C. roots, like Evander Kane and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, could also celebrate in the area.
The Panthers also have B.C. connections with Sam Reinhart from West Vancouver and Justin Sourdif from Richmond, adding another layer to the local interest in the series.
