Stutzle finished the 2023-24 season with less than half the 39 goal total he put up the season before.
It's hard to suggest that an NHL player who finished second on his team in scoring had an off year. But that's how it is for Ottawa Senators centre Tim Stutzle, who was way off his scoring pace from the previous season.
Stutzle finished the season with 18 goals and 70 points. That's 21 goals shy of his totals from a 90-point season a year earlier.
Some of the regression is almost certainly due to the fact that Stutzle wasn't completely healthy all season. He says he was dealing with wrist and shoulder injuries at various points. But beyond getting past those ailments this summer, GM Steve Staios believes there's one main area of growth for the young German star.
And it really has nothing to do with hockey.
"Well, when you're a top talent like that, you feel like you can make an impact on every shift. And so when it doesn't happen, that's the frustration," Staios said at his season-ender with the media. "That'll be the growth for Tim. And we know it's coming. How can we help him? How can we support and expedite that growth, that maturity? It does take time, but I've talked to him specifically about that."
Stutzle frequently looked frustrated and upset after certain shifts during games this year. Not only was that not helping his cause, it can also have the negative effect of empowering the opposition, validating what they're doing against him. When the other team watches their most skilled opponent repeatedly coming off the ice looking defeated, that can galvanize them, feeling like they've fully gotten into the player's kitchen.
"(Stutzle's) intentions are to go out there and help the Ottawa Senators on every single shift and using his God-given talents to be able to do it. So when it doesn't happen for him, there's some frustration. Now, as he matures, he's going to learn how to channel that in the right way."
At his own media availability on Thursday, Stutzle was asked what he and his teammates need to do to step up their game next season.
"We've got to come prepared for camp," Stutzle said. "Everybody has to be in great shape because next year is going to be hard. We're going to have to play some hard hockey.'
Being committed to play hard hockey is one thing. Being willing or able to do it is another. And it's almost certain that Staios will be looking to add some hard-skill to the lineup this summer.