Senators’ Tim Stützle – “You’ve Got To Remember, He’s Only 20 Years-Old”

“He’s such a great kid and it’s just fun to see how hard he comes to work every day, and I think everyone is really happy for him.”

This could’ve been substituted as a quote to describe Ottawa Senator Tim Stützle on any given night, especially after his two-goal performance in Sunday’s 3-1 win over the Buffalo Sabres. But on this night, this was Stützle displaying elation for 27-year-old “great kid” Jake Lucchini in scoring his first NHL goal.

Realizing his “faux pas,” Stützle chuckled upon leaving the scrum. In fact, Lucchini is almost seven years older than the 20-year-old who turns 21, January 15.

That’s what makes Stützle so endearing to his teammates and fans alike. He speaks like a grizzled veteran, but in reality, is still only skimming the surface of his potential. And who knows what that’ll be? The sky is the limit at this juncture only 165 games into his NHL career.

Signed to an eight-year, $66.8 million contract extension prior to the season, the richest in Senators’ history to date, Stützle is currently producing on a point-per-game pace (14 goals, 19 assists in 33 games), and is a candidate to be named the club’s representative when the league announces one player from each team to participate in All-Star weekend.

Registering 48 goals to date in his two-plus seasons, his first being the shortened 2020-21 “Covid” campaign, Stützle leads all Senators in their 30-year franchise history prior to the age of 21.

His seven career multi-goal games are one shy of Martin Havlat‘s eight, also prior to the age of 21, and Stützle will have five cracks to achieve this mark.

Selected third overall in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft, no player has more points than the Viersen, Germany resident.

Tim Stutzle (3) 165 games 48 goals 72 assists 120 points

Lucas Raymond – Detroit (4) 117 games 32 goals 47 assists 79 points

Alexis Lafreniere – Rangers (1) 172 games 36 goals 33 assists 69 points

Dawson Mercer – New Jersey (18) 119 games 25 goals 38 assists 63 points

Seth Jarvis – Carolina (13) 105 games 23 goals 36 assists 59 points

Anton Lundell – Florida (12) 94 games 22 goals 36 assists 58 points

What fans and media alike have seen from Stützle since his NHL debut on his 19th birthday is the growth in his game.

We’ve seen his spectacular first NHL goal, seemingly swatting the puck out of the air from the near boards.

Tim Stutzle tees up his first career NHL goal to cut the Senators (+175 ML) deficit to 3-2
pic.twitter.com/BHUo1eI67J

— Bet The Pucks (@betthepucks) January 17, 2021

We’ve witnessed his rookie foibles. learning to play the defensive side of the game versus older and stronger players.

Last season Stützle showed more progression. And when he was shifted to centre out of necessity when Josh Norris sustained a shoulder injury which caused him to miss 16 games, his game rose even more.

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This season, Stützle wanted to round out his repertoire even further by being a member of the team’s penalty-killing unit. He did just that. And when Norris went down again to yet another shoulder injury, the six-foot, 193-pound, Stützle amped up his game once again becoming a fixture centering the Senators’ top line with Brady Tkachuk and Claude Giroux patrolling the wings.

He’ll likely remain in that spot when Norris returns at some juncture this month.

Most of all Stützle is already fast becoming a go-to player in all situations and is relishing his newly-found role.

With Tyler Motte out with a broken finger, Stützle was the lone forward on the ice to kill off a Sabres’ 5-on-3 Sunday. The PK didn’t allow a shot while clinging to a one-goal lead. Plus he was on the ice when Buffalo summoned goalie Craig Anderson to the bench and ended up recording the empty net back-breaker.

Senators’ head coach D.J. Smith has always believed Stützle had the ability to perform in all situations, telling Full Press Hockey, “I think I’ve said since the get go, you know, I think people maybe question how good you thought he’d be – his edges, his compete level. I mean you’ve got to remember he’s only 20 years old. He’s going to be a household name and lead for a long time and a guy that can play in all situations.”

Likewise, Stützle is also appreciative his coach has trust in him to play in those situations, “I just tried to play my game and try to to be better defensively every day and I think D.J. trusts me in every situation. So that’s great to see. And I try to give it back to him and play my best,  and try to give everything for the team, block shots.”

Whether Stützle receives an All-Star nod later this week remains to be seen, but one would expect there’ll be a few All-Star games to follow in his future.