Ducks 2020 Draft Spotlight: Tim Stutzle is a First Round Wildcard

The First Round Wildcard

Stuzle is a bit of a wild card in the top portion of the draft. Slated to go anywhere from 2nd overall down to 9th, his skill set is one that will surely excite fans of whichever lucky team drafts him (strong money is Ottawa.) A large portion of the Ducks fandom will very likely be hanging for GM Bob Murray to call his name. After all, you can’t win games if you can’t score, and Stutzle appears to have a gift for scoring in a way that many of the current group of Ducks prospects do not.

Tim Stuztle Profile

Born: January 15, 2002 (18 yo), Viersen, Germany Nation: Germany Draft Year Team: Alder Mannheim Position: C/LW Shoots: Left Height: 6’0”/184 cm Weight: 187 lbs/85 kg

Notable Accomplishments

• 2017-18:
  • DNL Champion
  • U18 WJC  (D1A) Silver Medal
• 2018-19:
  • DNL Champion
  • U18 WJC (D1A) Best Forward
  • U18 WJC (D1A) Gold Medal
    U18 (D1A) Most Assists (7)
• 2019-20:
  • DEL Rookie of the Year

**Profile information, notable accomplishments, and scoring history for each season were found at eliteprospects.com.

Who is Tim Stutzle?

However, first things first. Tim Stutzle in a January born (2002) German player, standing ~6’0 and weighing in at ~187 lbs, depending on which site you use to look him up. A versatile player who is a natural center, yet accustomed to playing the wing, would slot easily into most teams forward corp plans no matter what that team’s player group might look like.

Stutzle has most recently played for Adler Mannheim in the German DEL league, which is the top men’s league in that country. He played in 41 games, collecting 7 goals and 27 assists, which highlights his status as a playmaker. He also contributed at slightly above the point-per-game pace in international play (2 goals and 12 assists in 13 games).

Stutzle’s playing background is a little unique, in that he played in a relatively obscure league in his D-1 season, before really blowing up and making a name for himself this season in DEL this season. To my knowledge, only Tomas Hertl has a similar background, though Hertl obvious came from the Czech leagues and Stutzle is coming out of the German leagues (and looks set to stay there next season for those eager fans who may be looking forward to seeing him next season.)

Due to limited tracking in both of the “junior” leagues these players played in, it’s hard to collate data and collect their D-1 season NHLe. However, their draft year seasons are slightly easier to find. Using their draft years only, NHLe has Stutzle on a very similar trajectory as his predecessor (both sitting ~25 NHLe.) Hertl may have had a relatively slow start to his scoring career with the San Jose Sharks, but has come on in the past two seasons, scoring at 0.88 points per game pace in what could be considered his prime scoring years.

Currently ranked the consensus #1 European skater, Stutzle certainly isn’t a slam dunk star that would go #1 overall in another draft. His overall status flits all over the top 10 depending on which rankings site you may lookup:

NHL Central Scouting (European Skaters) – #1 (Midterm Rank)

HockeyProspect – #3 (January)

ISS – #2 (March)

EliteProspects – #8 (February)

Future Considerations – #3 (March)

McKeen’s Hockey – #3 (Midseason)

Naturally, draft status doesn’t necessarily dictate the way a draft (or mock draft) might go. Thus many mock drafts show him going slightly later than drat talent may predict:

myNHLdraft – #4

Bleacher Report – #4

The Hockey Writers – #7

Draft Site – #3

Tankathon – #3

Sporting News – #2

All this is to say, that should the Anaheim Ducks creep up towards 2nd or 3rd in the draft, then Stutzle will very likely be available (although rumors abound that Ottawa loves him and would take him at #2.) This becomes less certain should the Ducks remain as they are, or if they should drop back at all. Nonetheless, he looks as much as a lock for a top 5 selection as one could predict at this stage of the game.

What the Scouts Say About Tim Stutzle

Being a top prospect, there has been a lot of virtual ink being spit about Stutzle, most of it, of course, being quite good.

To start the ball rolling (or puck sliding) Dobber Prospects has a simple piece about him:

“An average-sized offensive forward with excellent speed and quickness. A great playmaker who also knows how to finish his chances. A natural center but has been frequently used at wing. High offensive upside but doesn’t provide much help in peripheral stats.”

To me, this sums the player up fairly succinctly. He is about average size for the NHL and I don’t think that anyone could argue with the playmaker monicker given he’s put up more assists than goals in every tier and season of his hockey career bar his under-16’s season in 2015-2016. The final sentence of that little blurb, however, may push Bob Murray away from him, given his love for “two-way” players who can contribute in all facets of the game equally.

However, further reading from Jokke Nevalainen may somewhat alleviate much of the concern there, if indeed there are any concerns to be had:

“Stützle is an excellent skater who combines high-end speed with incredible quickness. He also has quick hands which make him dangerous in one-on-one situations. He makes sharp and accurate passes, and although known as a pass-first player, he also owns a dangerous wrist shot. On top of all that, Stützle is a very quick thinker which allows him to process plays at top speed and even when he is pressured. Stützle is known as an offensive forward but he has shown significant improvement in his play without the puck and isn’t a defensive liability. He is hungry for loose pucks and has shown great effort in puck-battles when he’s trying to steal the puck. Stützle has a pretty good understanding of his defensive responsibilities and he doesn’t cheat from those. “

The top portion of the comment alludes to the offensive acumen of the player, and like most draft-eligible prospects, the write up is glowing. However, the final portion is perhaps more interesting for Anaheim Ducks fans to latch onto. All too often we saw the incoming prospects this season shy away from puck battles or outright lose the ones they went into.

It also wasn’t unusual to see some of the more highly touted prospects (cough Terry cough) outright cheat or give up entirely on defensive plays. While Stutzle is a different tier of prospect to Troy Terry, and even Sam Steel, it would be a comforting feeling to acquire an offensive-minded prospect who goes bull at the gate to regain lost pucks. Particularly in light of current head coach Dallas Eakins‘ strategy of letting the other team have the puck and score at will.

Another point that Ducks fans may be intrigued to see in action is Stutzles’ speed. Typically a slower skating team over the past decade, primarily due to the team’s best players (Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry) being on the slower side, the new NHL is primarily based on speed and skill over size. Scott Wheeler had the following to say about Stutzle in his mid-season rankings.

“The fastest skater in the draft, Stützle is the kind of attacking forward who takes space and quickly makes it disappear. Defenders either have to build in a larger gap before he gets going, or they have to try to push up on him … and they’re probably going to get burned either way. He shuffles and crosses over up the ice, weaving through the neutral zone to put defenders on their heels and create exits and entries with ease. And though I sometimes worry that he’s too rush-reliant and that he’s not as dangerous within the offensive zone as some of his peers… Stützle is a superb passer and handler who knifes through lanes and finish around the net… His ability to carve through the neutral zone and make defenders turn is super impressive, and then he’s got filthy middle-of-the-ice playmaking once he gets there.”

The article may also highlight a cause for a changing of the guard in Anaheim should Stutzle be drafted. For many years, the Ducks’ best offense came on the back of a somewhat unique behind-the-net cycle game that the Getzlaf-Perry duo patented. This was primarily driven by dump and chase style of hockey that was in a large part orchestrated by Randy Carlyle while he was in charge of the Ducks bench. This style heavily influenced current coach Eakins philosophy, as the Ducks, last season dumped the puck in more than they had any year previously, and interestingly enough more on the power play than they did at even strength.

Drafting Stutzle who currently appears to be stronger on the rush than cycling in the offensive zone, and who is not strong on the forecheck, would suggest an alteration of playstyle going into the future. Though the recent trade of Ondrej Kase, who played a similar style may also suggest Stutzle isn’t exactly what the Ducks are looking for in their players.

Like many draft-eligible players, Stutzle has also had his coaches and teammates come out to bat for him. These may, in fact, be a stronger indication of the player than any commentary about his play could possibly be.  An article in Sportnet presented some quotes from head coach Tobias Abstreiter regarding the hype surrounding the player and how he’s managed to stay grounded through it all:

“It’s unbelievable the way he’s dealing with that. He’s a very good character guy. He knows what’s important. It doesn’t affect him. At this age, it’s very impressive.”

It seems as though Stutzle is considered to be a well-spoken young man who doesn’t appear to talk himself up, instead, allowing his play on the ice to tell the story. This is a league, and at tournaments where his opponents are often older and more experienced than he is. An analysis by NHL central scouting has the following to say.

“He’s also a little bit cocky on the ice, but in a positive way.”

This further cements Stutzle as a guy who lets his actions speak louder than his words. A premise which is backed up by his teammate and international captain Moritz Seider (drafted by Detroit #6 in 2019):

“He’s a humble kid. He’s performing every single night. He has to learn a couple things, but he will adjust quick and has a bright future.”

All in all, a Stutzle appears to be a hard-working player, who remains grounded despite the hype. He may not entirely be the cup of tea for American fans who like glitz and glamour and talking a big game, but for fans who appreciate quiet excellence and who understand the phrase “walk softly but carry a big stick,” Stutzle looks like a player they appreciate for a decade to come.

While not necessarily a comment, this play-by-play piece by Tony Ferrari is too good not to include in any draft piece about Stutzle. A break down of notable plays during a game and how Stutzle acts as a facilitator offensively, as well as highlighting some strong defensive play and transition work. Further commentary, regarding Stutzle and his play, from draft pundits, can be found here.

How Does Tim Stutzel fit into the Anaheim Ducks Future Plans?

At first blush, Stutzle doesn’t readily appear to slide into the Ducks plans in the next few seasons. Already boasting Ryan Getzlaf and Adam Henrique as the steady veterans, the Ducks have added numerous players taken to the center ice position in recent drafts. Sam Steel is one such player set for a top-6 role, while Benoit-Oliver Groulx seems set to take a 3rd line role in the next season or two.

However, the Seattle expansion draft is coming up and there is the possibility that the Ducks let Henrique go. Similarly, Getzlaf is getting on in years and Bob Murray has indicated that he would prefer Getzlaf to retire rather than continue when his contract is up. However, Stutzle shouldn’t necessarily be pushed aside even should Henrique remain and Getzlaf continue.

Stutzle’s versatility to play any forward position may, in fact, be of even greater benefit to the Ducks than some other teams, given last season’s selection of Trevor Zegras. Zegras is listed as a center, however, some draft pundits have suggested he may be a better fit in the NHL as a wing.

The potential to be able to line him up with Stutzle may allow for the coach at the time to interchangeably utilize either player at either position depending on the nature of the draw or in-game situation. The New York Islanders a few years back, for example, would alternate John Tavares and Kyle Okposo between center and wing (and use a different playbook) if consecutive draws were within a certain period of time.

This made their power play a little more difficult to contain. It’s a Voltron type scenario that the Ducks could easily foresee in 3-4 years time when both Zegras and Stutzle would come into their full powers.

The 3-4 year time frame surely sees an end to the Getzlaf at #1 era, no matter what occurs with his next contract. It would not be unusual for the Ducks to envisage a lineup of the following current prospects and players:

Max Comtois – Trevor Zegras/Tim Stutzle – Tim Stutzle/Trevor Zegras

Brayden Tracey – Sam Steel – Sonny Milano

Max Jones – Benoit-Oliver Groulx – Danton Heinen

XXX – XXX – XXX

That isn’t including the Boston selection this season at the tail end of the first round, which is also likely to be a forward given the projected shape of the draft and the forward depth on offer. It wouldn’t surprise to see any number of the above players be shifted out for future picks, or to solidify what will be an aging and still fairly weak defensive unit. Nonetheless, Stutzle provides enough versatility that should Zegras stumble, they have a potential #1 center ready to switch places with him in a heartbeat.

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Perhaps more pertinent is that Stutzle’s hockey IQ is perceived as extremely high. He thinks the game rapidly and appears to be constantly reading the play. This combined with his positioning and situational awareness, makes him a threat in the offensive end, and a capable player defensively. When he sees a player step out of position to move to the puck, he has the presence of mind to step back and fill-in for them.

Perhaps in part due to his low-key temperament as a person, combined with his superior vision, Stutzle seems content to make simple plays and let the play develop rather than force situations that may contribute to turnovers and counter-attacks from the opposition. His patience in this manner makes me a threat at even strength, but perhaps more so on the power play, where he can out-wait the defense before threading the needle to a teammate in an advantageous scoring position.

With Getzlaf getting long in the tooth, the Anaheim Ducks could sorely use a lethal playmaker on the power play. With Zegras already in the fold, the Ducks would have the option of playing them apart on separate units or bringing them together to facilitate a power-play scheme that is heavily reliant on cross-ice passing through the royal road and forcing the lateral movement of the opposition netminder.

For a power play that has wallowed in the bottom half of the league for seemingly a decade, the abundance of riches should have fans salivating. Only the acquisition of a big-time goal scorer would be required to turn that ship around in no time flat.

At the end of the day, the Anaheim Ducks can’t go wrong with any selection they make with their first overall pick. Depending on where they land, they could have the choice of near anyone they want. Tim Stutzle has certainly done enough this season to warrant his name being in the discussion of being the equal highest draft pick in Anaheim Ducks draft history (Bobby Ryan, 2nd overall in 2005), and I’m certain that Bob Murray and his scouting department will be looking at him heavily.

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