2020 NHL Draft Profile No. 4: Tim Stutzle
By Jason Jhutti
3 years agoDate of birth: January 15th, 2002
Nation: Germany
Position: Centre/Left wing
Shoots: L
Height: 6’0″ / 184 cm
Weight: 187 lbs / 85 kg
Tim Stutzle played in the highest league in Germany this season, the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL), and was ranked number one among all European skaters. Despite not even being able to drink at Oktoberfest, Stutzle had seven goals and 34 points and won rookie of the year.
Stutzle is a natural centreman but often spends more time on the left side especially in the DEL and drew pretty high-class comparisons from TSN’s Director of Amateur Scouting Craig Button:
“He’s pure excitement and plays the game in a similar fashion to Patrick Kane,”…”He’s quick on his skates and has a fast mind. He’s extremely confident and manages to do things in the game offensively that are completely unexpected. Stutzle is a very difficult guy to try to defend.”
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NHL Director of European Scouting Goran Stubb told NHL.com:
“Stutzle played a very mature game the whole season and impressed more and more playing regular shifts with a top team,”. “Tim had a big role on the team, used in all game situations. An exceptional talent with a great set of tools including speed and excellent understanding of the game”
Stutzle credits the DEL for helping his development while playing with men. Stutzle is a competitor who hates to lose — he wants to be a difference maker on the ice and help the team win. Stutzle models his game after players like Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl because of the speed and competitiveness they bring to an NHL lineup.
Now, the clear and obvious first overall is Alexis Lafreniere, whom the Detriot Red Wings stumbled across the finish line to receive the best odds of calling upon before any other team. Another fanbase and franchise desperate for some good fortune that would love to add Stutzle are the Ottawa Senators who had another incredibly disappointing season.
Along with their own pick, the Senators receive San Jose’s first round pick due to the Erik Karlsson trade. The Sharks didn’t plan to finish last in the wild west and 29th overall this season, which was a spot ahead of the Senators, but they did and the Senators will reap from the benefits.
With young stars like Brady Tkachuk, Thomas Chabot, and a few others in the AHL, adding Stutzle to the mix would go a long way in the rebuild. Tkachuk’s physical play could do wonders for Stutzle, whose speed and skill and would compliment Tkachuk’s style and be a potentially deadly duo.
By having two picks in the top five, Ottawa could draft a centreman who could potentially be feared around the league for years to come.
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