Stutzle is not playing well? I thought he was at least doing better than the bust Lafreniere.

No, that's not the case at all. In fact, even though he's got just 1 point, he's easily been the team's most dangerous player to start the season. He hasn't found the back of the net, but he looks like a budding star who is about to break through.

The point I'm making is more about DJ loving Paul-Pinto-Brown as a shutdown line, and that potentially leaving Stützle as the odd man out, and how that might leave opportunities to experiment with Tim Stützle's role.

I think in all likelihood they will simply put Stützle with Pinto and Brown, because that's obviously what makes the most sense. I just wanted to explore other options if DJ does want to have that top unit shutdown line.

I have maintained since the offseason that the Sens need to experiment with Stützle playing centre. Seems that now is the perfect time to do just that.

Worst case scenario is he can't (oh no) which leads the organization in one direction. Of he can, then it leads them down another with a multitude of line up possibilities.

Again Sens fans..... Stützle, Norris and Pinto down the middle for a decade = Spezza, Fischer and Kelly. Those teams were awefully good.

Putting Stutzle on the third line is so wrong IMO.



I really like Nick Paul and I'm really high on him.

However, the top 6 should be for the more offensively-minded forwards while the bottom 6 should be for the more defensively-minded forwards.

It's as simple as that.




If DJ really wants Nick Paul to play with Shane Pinto and Connor Brown, he should do so if Stutzle is either not available or just had a long shift.

Stutzle just isn't meant to be a third line checker that kills penalties like Nick Paul.

Like ... ever.

If Stützle were to pan out as a C, Stützle-Norris-Pinto down the middle blows Spezza-Fisher-Kelly out of the water. Stützle is unlikely to reach the level of dominance that Spezza hit as his peak, but Norris is going to be a real cut above Fish imo, and I think Pinto has upside as a comparable player to Mike Fisher.

Even better forward group:
Tkachuk-Pinto-Stutzle
Formenton-Norris-Batherson
Paul-Tierney-C. Brown

Not disagreeing with that assessment. The sum of the parts is what makes it look so good. Literally able to roll 3 lines.

All offseason we have seen various posts about the Sens needing to find another centre, yet, Stützle has experience at the position. That may not pan out at the NHL level (see Nylander, William) but now is the time to find that out..... as there isn't much in the system that could fill that void.

The insane depth the Sens have on the wing (still quality prospects coting Abramov and Greig) in the system, couple with the impressive depth on the blueline, a deal surely is out there if it doesn't work out that fits the Sens long term.

How did you get "Tim Stützle should be a 3rd line checker" from this? That's very clearly not the point. It's actually the opposite of the point, because I was highlighting the team's options for Stützle if DJ opts to keep the Pinto line together to fill that exact role without Stützle.

You shouldn't Reilly get hung up on 1st line 2nd line 3rd line, and how each line has to fill a specific role. For example, the Pinto line this year has functionally been the 1st line in terms of deployment, and is very clearly a checking line.

Big Fisher and Kelly fan but I think Norris and Pinto will be much better hockey players. Stutzle is very different from Spezza but could be another high end center. You're totally right though, if Stutzle transitions to center well, the team is in very good shape

Formenton-Stutzle-Batherson
Tkachuk-Norris-Ennis
Paul-Pinto-Brown
Sanford-Tierney-Watson
Kelly/White (injured)

That top-9 could be damn good, almost that you wouldn't really need a 4th line lol

Sokolov, Jarventie, Crookshank most likely candidates to graduate next season. Ridly Greig and Tyler Boucher too? Ennis and that whole 4th line could be let go (although Watson still has 1 year after)

My point is that some hockey teams would usually give more ice time to their 1st line than their 2nd or 3rd lines.

For instance, during Ottawa's cup run in '07, Heatley, Spezza and Alfredsson got lots of ice time while every other forward got a lot less because they checked more than they scored.

Stutzle can score more than he can check and I sort of question whether Coach DJ appreciates that.

As such, Stutzle's calibre and potential is that of a 1st line forward, not a 3rd line forward.




The main reason why Nick Paul - Shane Pinto - Connor Brown functioned as a 1st line is because of the absence of Brady Tkachuk.

Coach DJ wanted a LW to fill in for Brady who not only checks but can play on a line with Pinto/Brown and maintain chemistry while Stutzle is moved up with Norris and Batherson.

That player was Nick Paul.

After Stutzle and Paul, there is a huge drop off to the next LW and Coach DJ didn't really have much choice.




With Brady back in the lineup, either Nick Paul or Tim Stutzle will have to make room and be demoted to the 3rd line.

I'm hoping Coach DJ doesn't put Stutzle on the third line because he's not the calibre of player that belongs there and that's not his potential.

Unless Coach DJ intends to roll 4 lines and try matching them against the 4 lines on other teams, putting Nick Paul on the third line is the way to go.

Thanks for the insight. Yeah from my observations he looks really energetic and confident with the puck, whereas every time Lafreniere touches it, he defers it to a teammate right away. Basically you’re seeing a player with no belief in his ability.

Anyway do you think the Sens could take a chance on Dylan Strome? I think he has a skillset that could work well with a transition & stickhandling expert like Stutzle.

Strome to OTT wouldn't surprise me at all. They called about him in the summer, and I believe it was LeBrun who speculated that Ottawa would make sense when discussing Strome. They need to add someone.

Ninety percent of teams and hockey fans would like the have problems the Sens are going to have now and in the near future.
Lots of cap, lots of good players, many years of NHL control for their best players.
Gee whether a top 6...maybe top 3 player like Stutzie plays centre or left wing....I'm sure the Sens coaching can figure it out.

Agree I think Strome can be attained for a fourth maybe cuz CHI has no leverage. He’s pretty good at generating iXG and iCF, so if used properly he could be the new Sam Bennett!

Have you watched the first 3 games of the season? If you did, you would have noticed the Paul - Pinto - Brown line has been the best line. Why would you change that? Stutzle's minutes won't change regardless of what line he is on. Putting him on the 3rd line isn't a punishment, it's an opportunity for him to absolutely fly with Formenton against weaker opponents

Yes, I did watch the first 3 games of the season.

And after I did, I didn't log on to Capfriendly and start attacking your ideas whenever you posted.



Like I said in the other thread, as long as you're winning, nothing else matters.

Even if Nick Paul is higher up in the lineup than Tim Stutzle.



However, if you start losing, you might need to consider making some changes.

It's what coaches do all the time.

If you watched hockey all your life like I do, you would know.