Can Tim Stützle Carry the Senators to the Next Level?

Tim Stützle has this annoying ability to make everything feel like it’s going to happen. But sooner or later the puck is finding the back of the net because he’s already two steps ahead. He’s that good. But how good can he be this season if he doesn’t have Brady Tkachuk to take up physical space in the lineup because he was traded? So the real question is: how far can he carry the Ottawa Senators? And can this actually become “his” team?

Because when you look at what Stützle’s done in 2025-26, it’s not just solid. It was impactful. He put up 34 goals and 49 assists for 83 points, averaged 20:16 of ice time, and played in 80 regular-season games. And, while the stat sheet tells part of the story, he also brought 126 hits, 44 blocked shots, and 39 penalty minutes. That tells Senators fans that he’s not hiding when it gets physical.

Can Stützle Control the Ice?

The points are the easy part for Stützle. The bigger thing is how he controls games. You can watch him and feel the tempo change. One shift he’s flying past guys, the next he’s threading amazing passes like it’s the most normal thing in the world. He’s creative, confident, and he reads plays before they fully develop—so it’s not just that he’s making plays, it’s that he’s making the right plays happen on purpose.

And if Ottawa’s being real with themselves, that’s what they needed. Building a solid roster without your former captain can be difficult because you’re constantly waiting for the player who makes you believe. The Senators didn’t just draft a top prospect in Stützle at No. 3 in the virtual 2020 draft. They drafted a guy who’s actually already earned the “franchise” tag.

Looking at the Other Players in That Draft Class, Stützle Is a Cut Above

If you stack up the other top picks from that draft class, Stützle stands out hard. The best players in the league are the ones who lift everything around them. And that’s what he does. Even when the season gets long, or the results aren’t perfect, he still plays like the game revolves around finishing strong.

Ottawa has other solid players too. These include defenceman Jake Sanderson. But it’s Stützle who is the offensive engine and the game changer. He’s the guy you want late in games, the guy fans picture when they think “we can win this.” So, if the Senators are going to become “Stützle,” this is how it starts. With a superstar like Stützle already acting like a superstar every night.