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Stecher reveals Edmonton Oilers' glue guy from last season and it's not who you would expect

Colton Pankiw
Colton Pankiw
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Jul 4 2025, 10:02 pm
Stecher reveals Edmonton Oilers' glue guy from last season and it's not who you would expect
Sam Navarro/Imagn Images

While several players on the Edmonton Oilers’ 2024-25 roster have been on the team for many years, it was a new addition who really boosted the morale.

Defenceman Troy Stecher, who joined the Oilers at the 2024 trade deadline and has remained on the roster since, recently appeared on the Live in Five Podcast with Jordan Schmaltz and Gage Ausmus.

The trio talked about all things Oilers, but one particular part of the interview came when Schmaltz asked Stecher who was bringing the energy to the dressing room each and every day. Rather than a veteran who has been on the roster for several years, it was actually a player brought in past the midway point of the season.

“You’d be surprised, but it was John Klingberg. That guy is hilarious, man,” Stecher said. “He had so many one-liners, so many nicknames for the guys. Instantly from day one, he just fit in with our group, and he had the guys hooting and hollering, laughing so much before every single game.”

The Oilers signed Klingberg to a one-year deal as a free agent in January, which came as a surprise given that most thought his career was over due to injury. While he struggled to stay healthy in the regular season, suiting up for just 11 games, he was able to remain healthy and played a big role in the postseason, appearing in 19 contests.

Joining the Oilers proved to be a career revival of sorts for Klingberg, who has since signed a one-year, $4 million deal with the San Jose Sharks. Not only will the 32-year-old help out a rebuilding Sharks team on the ice, but his apparent presence in the locker room should also help keep the mood light should they go on any lengthy losing stints in 2025-26.

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