GARRIOCH: Tim Stutzle loves being in Ottawa and wants to help Senators win

Published Sep 09, 2024  •  4 minute read

Ottawa Senators' Tim Stutzle meets with the media at the wrap up for the 2023-24 season. Julie Oliver/Postmedia

The Ottawa Senators hit the links Monday morning at The Marshes Golf Club before the focus turns solely to the rinks.

Before pulling out a driver in the Senators’ charity open, top centre Tim Stutzle wanted to put to rest the ridiculous speculation that his decision to change his representation is a precursor to asking for a change of scenery.

He’s now represented by former NHL player Claude Lemieux of 4sports Hockey after Stutzle started his career with Octagon Hockey. Lemieux also is the agent for Stutzle’s close friend, Moritz Seider, a defenceman for the Detroit Red Wings.

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“It’s a really long story,” Stutzle said. “First, I want to say I’m really thankful what (Octagon) did for me. I saw a little bit of rumours out there and it’s not true at all. I love being in Ottawa. That’s not why I switched agents.

“There’s a situation that’s been going on in Germany for a while now. I just want to get that fixed. Seider has been with (Lemieux) for a long time now and he’s really happy with him. It has nothing to do with Ottawa.”

Stutzle is back after spending his summer in Germany with Seider and their personal trainer.

Stutzle skated with Adler Mannheim of the Deutsche Hockey League for over a month during their camp and returned to Ottawa on Labour Day weekend. He had the chance to have dinner with new coach Travis Green in Frankfurt in May and is confident the Senators will turn the corner.

“(Green) expects a lot and I expect a lot of myself also,” Stutzle said. “I’ve always been putting a lot of pressure on myself and I just want to be the best I can. I think that’s what he wants me to do as well.”

TURNING THE PAGE

While the Senators charity open normally has been held 24 hours before training camp gets under way in the past, the date was shifted this fall so the players could not only enjoy the day with sponsors and fans, it also allows them to turn their focus to getting ready for the start of the season.

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The Senators don’t report to camp at the Canadian Tire Centre until Sept. 18 but everybody expected to be on the club’s roster is already in town and this club is determined to get off to a good start this season to try to halt the seven-year playoff drought.

Steve Staios, the club’s president of hockey operations and general manager, has made changes, including the hiring of Green along with the acquisition of goaltender Linus Ullmark, forward David Perron, defenceman Nick Jensen and centre Michael Amadio.

“It’s going to be an intense camp and that’s pretty important,” alternate captain Claude Giroux said. “We’ve got be ready for that first game of the season and we’ve got to make sure we work hard.

“Making the playoffs is everybody’s goal in the league and if you make the playoffs then anything can happen. All year, we just have to build with the new players we have, make sure we make the playoffs and then make sure we have momentum going into the playoffs.”

FEELING GOOD

One player that has bounce in his step going into camp is alternate captain Thomas Chabot.

The club’s top blueliner had surgery on his wrist in May and spent the summer getting treatment every day. He confirmed he had been dealing with the issue for the past two years and, in hindsight, wishes he hadn’t put off the surgery so long because he finally feels 100%.

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“If I had known I would feel like I feel right now I probably would have taken care of that a long time ago,” Chabot said. “But it was my decision to hold back and not do it. We took care of that this summer and it’s pretty much back to 100%.

“It’s more about getting (repetitions) and getting back to start skating again. That’s what camp is for, is getting back into the stick battles in hockey game-like situations. But you know what, I’m just happy it’s healed up and it feels really good. It’s been a long time and I’m happy it’s down now.”

A sure sign that Chabot is feeling good is the fact he was a participant in the golf day, along with centre Josh Norris. He’s on the road to recovery from shoulder surgery he had last February and is expected to take part fully when camp gets under way.

Last year, Chabot and Norris were on hand for the tourney, but neither was able to play.

Captain Brady Tkachuk didn’t take part in the tourney because he’s back in New Jersey with his wife, Emma, preparing for the birth of the couple’s first child, which could happen anytime.

Centre Shane Pinto also was absent. He’s in Las Vegas acting as the club’s representative for the NHL Media Tour taking place this week.

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