Success at the World Junior Championship isn’t a sufficient condition for future National Hockey League success, but it does provide for a heightened level of optimism. For the Ottawa Senators, that level of optimism is now sky-high with respect to their third overall pick from this year’s draft, Tim Stuetzle.
On a scrappy German team that has rebounded from a 16-2 drubbing at the hands of Team Canada, Stuetzle has been driving the bus. His five goals and five assists for ten points through four games ties him for the tournament lead, and has made him a major reason Germany sits third in Group A. If the Senators were looking for their prized prospect to take the reins in a leadership role on a big stage, he’s done that and more.
The offensive totals referenced above are impressive on the surface, but become even more so when considered within the context of *how* he’s gone about compiling them. Stuetzle’s tenacity, passion for the game, creativity, and offensive instincts have been on display nearly every shift. There is perhaps no better example of all those qualities being engaged than his first goal in Wednesday’s German victory over Switzerland:
Stuetzle scores another beauty for his 2nd point of the game! #Sens #WorldJuniorspic.twitter.com/gLKYC5Ebq1
— Ottawa Senators (@Senators) December 30, 2020
🇩🇪🚨 Stuetzle's 2nd goal and 4th point of the game puts Germany up 4-0. He might just be the Sens' saviour #WorldJuniors
— Sens Prospects (@SensProspects) December 31, 2020
via @TSN_Sports pic.twitter.com/5Mj6rdBleJ
If Stuetzle is able to translate even a tiny portion of his World Junior success to the professional ranks, he’ll make the Senators a much more entertaining team to watch this year. For a fan base that deserves a feel-good story or two, that’s a major victory.
As always, thanks for reading.