Santa’s 10 Reindeer Draft Prospects – Day 3 – Tim Stützle
By Craig Jones
3 years agoThe moment the New York Rangers won the number one pick in this year’s draft, Wings’ fans were jolted from their peaceful Lafrenière-dream. It was like a dream you have the night before Christmas: eagerly looking forward to waking up, you constantly check the clock, anticipating Santa gifting you the best player in the draft. A single jet-stream shooting a lottery ball up in the air ended that dream. But that dream doesn’t have to end. This draft is deep – there’s no real consensus on draft order and the Wings have several holes to fill.
Position- Center / Left
Team – Adler Mannheim – DEL
Age – 18
Height – 6’0”
Weight – 187 lbs
Nation – German
Team – Adler Mannheim – DEL
Age – 18
Height – 6’0”
Weight – 187 lbs
Nation – German
Shoots – Left
What comes to your mind when you hear Blitzen? The majority of us immediately think, fast. Well, move over Blitzen because Tim Stützle is redefining the term. This high-flying German is the best skater in the draft. With great acceleration and an ability to change direction without notice, Stützle forces defenders into compromising positions. Combine that with a 6’1”, 187 pound frame and you have a forward that can start the season in the bottom-six and end in the top-line.This may be ambitious given his age, but this rookie of the year winner put up 34 points in 41 games in last season’s German League. His potential is palpable. Stützle has been forcing General Manager’s to reconsider their top-5 list all year.
TSN Director of 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.
Wings’ fans should be grateful if Stützle is available when they draft fourth overall. The current scoring champion is a German and who’s to say that in 5 years from now there won’t be another? Stützle’s speed, soft hands and offensive prowess forces him into the conversation of being the top-pick overall, but his defensive deficiencies are keeping him out of it. There are too many highlights where Stützle gets caught puck-watching and giving preventable scoring opportunities to his opponents. That being said, these are minor blemishes on an otherwise flawless hockey resume. Similar to his German compatriot Leon Draisaitl, Stützle can play both the wing and center. This versatility gives the Wings options in their lineup. Although his name may have not been called by Budd Lynch, if Stützle puts on some size, boosts his speed and improves his defensive game it could be called by Erich Freiney for many years.
Twitter: @Jonesinthezone
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