4 Big Questions for the Ottawa Senators in 2020-21

1. Is Tim Stuetzle the real deal?

Anyone who follows my work on Puck Prose will know how much I already love Tim Stueztle, and if there is a fan club then I should be one of the founding members. End of.

Seriously, though, everyone’s new favorite German looks every inch the kind of star you draft with the No. 3 overall pick, and the Ottawa Senators will be hoping that their 2020 NHL Entry Draft selection pans out that way.

At this point, something crazy would have to happen for Stuetzle not to flourish in the NHL it seems, given the prospect’s skill-set and his sheer drive to succeed at the highest-level.

You only had to watch the 2021 World Junior Championship in Edmonton to get some idea as to just how talented the forward is, with Stuetzle dominating the competition and dragging Germany to the Quarter-Finals for the first time in their history.

He recorded 10 points (5 G, 5 A) in five games and was just electric, combining elite playmaking ability with a hunger to dominate and battle for every puck.

Able to produce jaw-dropping play after jaw-dropping play, Stuetzle plays with a real swagger and a real maturity to his game and he just looks NHL ready.

Almost certain to now make the Opening Night roster for the Senators, Stuetzle has been taken in by veteran center Derek Stepan and the two could form a lethal partnership on the second-line.

Stuetzle just has that elite ability to make something happen out of nothing, and he could provide a real spark to an offense that ranked 25th in Goals For Per Game (2.68) last year.

And, if he can adapt quickly to the NHL and hit the ground running on what should be at least a half-competitive Ottawa Senators team, then don’t be surprised if Tim Stuetzle is right in the mix for the Calder Trophy come the end of the 2020-21 NHL Season.

Stuetzle-Mania is officially here!