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“It was pretty easy when you have Drake Caggiula (Oilers) and Nick Schmaltz (Blackhawks) and Brock Boeser (Canucks) playing forward (on the same line) — you just get them the puck. We found a lot of success and I showed as an undrafted guy that I could play and compete at that level.”

Photo by Jeff Bassett / THE CANADIAN PRESS

Stecher had 37 points (8-21) in 43 games in his final NCAA season and was a western second-team all-star in voting by the American Hockey Coaches Association. And that’s why he understands Hughes’s decision to return to a competitive environment, even though he already possesses elite NHL skating and a high I.Q. to quickly process the game.

“You obviously want to go back to college and win and in a comfortable setting,” added Stecher. “And because we’re so educated, we understand that the quickest way isn’t always the best route. It’s different for every individual. I’ve always lived by slow is smooth and smooth is fast.

“You don’t want to rush into the NHL, you want to make sure you’re prepared physically and mentally to prolong your career.”

Two years ago, there was great debate whether the Canucks could flourish on the back end with two small defencemen in Stecher and Jordan Subban. Now, nobody raises an eyebrow at the prospect of Stecher and Hughes on the same roster. It speaks to where the game is increasingly trending and why Hughes will have a leg up when he arrives here.

“I didn’t know much about him before the draft, but in Kamloops (world junior showcase) he looked really good,” added Stecher. “The game now, a lot of it is skating and not just fast, but by being good on your edges. And if you can think the game well, you’re going to have a good chance.