Flames, Coyotes trade Ritchie brothers

Troy Stecher and Nick Ritchie were traded to the Calgary Flames by the Arizona Coyotes on Friday.

The Coyotes received defenseman Connor Mackey and forward Brett Ritchie, Nick’s older brother. According to NHL stats, it is the first trade ever involving two brothers.

“I think they kind of got leaked out so they were laughing by the time I called them,” Flames general manager Brad Treliving said. “It’s unique. If for nothing else, we’re unique. It just worked out that way. I think it’s going to give Brett an opportunity there. We get Nick, give him an opportunity. First time for everything. It’s a little unique, and I had a chuckle with both of them while we were talking.”

Stecher, a 28-year-old defenseman, signed a one-year contract with the Coyotes on July 13 and can become an unrestricted free agent after the season. He has seven assists in 61 games this season.

Signed by the Vancouver Canucks as an undrafted free agent on April 13, 2016, Stetcher has 96 points (15 goals, 81 assists) in 420 regular-season games with the Coyotes, Los Angeles Kings, Detroit Red Wings and Canucks and seven points (four goals, three assists) in 21 Stanley Cup Playoff games.

“In Troy Stecher we’re getting a player back who has a lot of experience, has played in the playoffs as recently as last year,” Treliving said. “A right-shot guy. He brings some mobility, which I thought with (defenseman) Oliver (Kylington) not being here (for personal reasons), we’ve lacked a little bit. We look to welcome him.”

Nick Ritchie, a 27-year-old forward, is in the final season of a two-year contract he signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs on July 31, 2021, and can become a UFA after the season. Acquired in a trade with the Maple Leafs on Feb. 19, 2022, he has 21 points (nine goals, 12 assists) in 58 games this season.

Selected by the Anaheim Ducks with the No. 10 pick in the 2014 NHL Draft, Ritchie has 181 points (80 goals, 101 assists) in 465 regular-season games with the Coyotes, Maple Leafs, Boston Bruins and Ducks and nine points (six goals, three assists) in 38 postseason games.

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“Nick’s a big body (6-foot-3, 236 pounds),” Treliving said. “Nick’s moved around a little bit. Former 10th overall pick, he’s a big body, got some skill. His play, there’s been some inconsistency to it. We think down the stretch there’s an opportunity for him to show what he can do and help us as we push along here the last 20 games.”

Mackey has three points (two goals, one assist) in 10 games with the Flames this season. The 26-year-old, who was signed by Calgary as an undrafted free agent on March 20, 2020, has seven points (three goals, four assists) in 19 regular-season games. He can become a restricted free agent after the season.

Brett Ritchie has eight points (six goals, two assists) in 34 games this season. The 29-year-old signed a one-year contract on Sept. 21 and can become a UFA after the season.

Selected by the Dallas Stars in the second round (No. 44) of the 2011 NHL Draft, Ritchie has 80 points (48 goals, 32 assists) in 375 regular-season games with the Flames, Boston Bruins and Stars and two goals in 10 playoff games.

The Flames (27-22-13) are five points behind the Winnipeg Jets for the second wild card into the playoffs from the Western Conference.

The Coyotes (21-31-9) are 21 points behind the Winnipeg Jets for the second wild card into the playoffs from the West.

Arizona acquired forward Jakub Voracek from the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday for goalie Jon Gillies and traded forward Nick Bjugstad to the Edmonton Oilers for defenseman Michael Kesselring and a third-round pick in the 2023 NHL Draft.

The Coyotes traded defenseman Jakob Chychrun to the Ottawa Senators on Wednesday for a conditional first-round pick in the 2023 Draft, a conditional second-round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft and a second-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, and defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere to the Carolina Hurricanes for a third-round pick in the 2026 Draft.

NHL.com independent correspondent Aaron Vickers contributed to this report