GARRIOCH: Two days before training camp, Senators winger Tim Stuetzle has drawn attention with his elite talent

Article content

Bigger, faster and stronger.

Article content

Tim Stuetzle has checked the boxes in all three categories as the Ottawa Senators prepare for the season opener against the Toronto Maple Leafs on October 14 at the Canadian Tire Center.

Yes, 19-year-old Stuetzle is hard to miss every time he steps on the ice, but with the training ground underway, the sophomore sensation seems set to have a great season with the club celebrating a game within the team. Saturday morning before opening. preseason Sunday in Winnipeg.

The guy is very confident and oozes every time he plays the record.

“I’ve always said that for me it’s team first,” Stuetzle said. “We showed last year at the end of the season when everyone works hard and we get good goalkeepers and everything works well together. If we do that, we can achieve a lot together. That is my goal, I want to win as many games as I can.

Article content

“If I can help with that by scoring goals and making plays, I have to be good at it. Everyone has to work hard and my first goal is to win more games this year.

Don’t let anyone discount what is happening during these first days of camp because Stuetzle shows with his ability to make plays.

“(You) just see the maturity,” said Ottawa coach DJ Smith. “It is your second camp with the boys, you are going back and you know what is expected of you. You love playing hockey and your freshman year there is so much going on and so many distractions off the ice.

“It is the first time that you do interviews, flights and everything. Now, he’s here and he’s just playing hockey. I see a really dynamic hockey player who can do a lot of things. I think he led (the first) blow at a stroke. I don’t know if that is what we are looking for, but it is really competitive ”.

Article content

Stuetzle has been playing online with Chris Tierney and Connor Brown at camp. They were impressed and Brown said Stuetzle will be an “elite” player.

“The thing about him is that he’s really good with open ice and he’s starting to learn to create that time and space for himself,” Brown said. “It is getting smarter. Even late last year, I had a lot more to the puck and was learning when and where to get it and how to make plays.

“His skill level is world-class, so it’s just those little things that he’s really starting to perfect.”

There is a portion of the fan base and media focused on the fact that the Senators have not used Stuetzle in the center since he was picked No. 3 in the NHL draft in October 2020. He was asked Smith about that possibility again Thursday. and practically discarded the notion.

Article content

Stuetzle doesn’t even seem comfortable with the idea.

“I would never say never, but there’s a lot of talk about Tim Stuetzle playing center,” Smith said. “I spoke to him and he didn’t have much interest in it this year anyway. At some point, we will give it a try, but in saying that we selected Tim Stuetzle as a winger.

“He played wing (in Germany), he played wing in the youth world championship. I know a lot of people talk about him playing center, but the last two seasons before coming to the NHL he played wing. It’s four years away since he played center. He is a dynamic scorer and we will have a few chances in center just to take a look at him, but the left wing is where he is going to play. “

Substitute captain Thomas Chabot noted that with his rookie season behind him, Stuetzle should be very confident heading into this camp.

Article content

“He played his first year and the first year is always tough to beat,” Chabor said. “He came in last year and he had already played with men for a couple of years. He walked into the room and felt comfortable because he was used to being around older boys by now.

“Last year, we saw a lot of good things about him, but I don’t think we saw it all. He’s a great player, the way he skates and makes plays. The more you play, the more they’ll see you and you’re just getting started. He’s going to be a big part of this team for a reason. “

Yes, it really does seem like the sky is the limit for Stuetzle. He finished with 12 goals and 29 points in 53 games last season and you would have to think that he might score in the 20-25 range in 82 games.

“I don’t want to pressure him because I think about the world of Timmy and his game,” Smith said. “What I see is a big, strong boy who has the real ability to score goals. I don’t want to put a number on him and then he feels like he has to measure up, but I could see him scoring 25 ”.

[email protected]

Twitter: @sungarrioch