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Ottawa Senators: Making the Case for the top Line Centre

By Daniel Bruce

OTTAWA, ON - FEBRUARY 18: Colin White #36 of the Ottawa Senators prepares for a face-off against the Buffalo Sabres at Canadian Tire Centre on February 18, 2020 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Jana Chytilova/Freestyle Photography/Getty Images)
OTTAWA, ON - FEBRUARY 18: Colin White #36 of the Ottawa Senators prepares for a face-off against the Buffalo Sabres at Canadian Tire Centre on February 18, 2020 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Jana Chytilova/Freestyle Photography/Getty Images) /
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Tim Stuetzle, Ottawa Senators (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
Tim Stuetzle, Ottawa Senators (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images) /

Tim Stuetzle

While this would be a stretch because of these comments by Pierre Dorion:

Since Dorion is specifically mentioning starting Stuetzle on the wing it seems unlikely that they would give him the opportunity right out of the gate. Being the 3rd overall pick and the pick they’re supposed to build a rebuild around, it will be tough for the Senators to resist their urges.

While an early-season injury scare that has sidelined Stuetzle for a while:

This shouldn’t protrude from the talented-forward making the roster as the 1C. He will be back by training camp and with this just being a hand injury, it shouldn’t impact his conditioning.

There’s no doubting that Stuetzle will be an integral part of the power-play, likely the first-unit, it’s within the realm of possibility that they try the 3rd overall pick on the top line with Evgenii Dadanov and the aforementioned Tkachuk. The excitement is there and though I can’t see Stuetzle  starting the season up the middle, with the Senators lack of established talent at centre anything is possible.

All stats courtesy of Natural Stat Trick

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