When the Ottawa Senators drafted German forward Tim Stutzle with the third overall pick in the 2020 NHL Draft, the Senators hoped he would be a huge piece for the Senators' future. Stutzle finished in the top 10 voting for the 2021 Calder Trophy.
As Stutzle's rookie season was finished, the Senators hoped he would grow more, and he certainly did. By the end of his third season, Stutzle recorded the first 90-point season of his career.
While Stutzle is primarily known for his play making abilities and recording assists, Stutzle has the ability to score goals. After the Senators' first game of the 2024-25 season, Stutzle is chasing an elite Senators stat, which can easily break.
Stutzle is four goals away from breaking career goal record before 23 years old in Senators history
Last night, Stutzle scored two goals in the Senators' 3-1 win on opening night against the Florida Panthers. Stutzle's two goals are a sign that bigger things are yet to come for him this season. It was Stutzle's empty-net goal that made him be part of Senators history.
Most career goals before turning 23 - Player with the @Senators franchise (1992-93 to present):
— StatsCentre (@StatsCentre) October 11, 2024
96- Martin Havlat
93- Tim Stutzle (Via scoring 2 in a 3-1 victory over FLA earlier tonight)
93- Marian Hossa
90- Brady Tkachuk
75- Alexei Yashin
74- Alexandre Daigle
64- Mika Zibanejad pic.twitter.com/hwYSHr2csr
According to @StatsCentre on X, Stutzle is tied for second all-time in Senators history with Marian Hossa with the most career goals in Senators history with 93. Stutzle needs three goals to tie Martin Havlat's record of 96, and four more goals to break the record with 97.
The good news for Stutzle is he's capable of breaking the record shortly. Stutzle will turn 23 years old on Jan. 15, so Stutzle had just over three months to break the record.
Opening night was a great first game for Stutzle's 2024-25 season to score goals. Stutzle scored 18 goals last season, a down year from his 39-goal season in 2022-23. Stutzle also scored just one powerplay goal last season, another down stat from his 10 powerplay goals in 2022-23.
If the Senators are going to have success this season, Stutzle is going to be a huge part of it. Stutzle's goal scoring needs to go up, and he can become the Senators' biggest offensive threat on the team.
"Every time you score, especially on the home crowd, and giving the team the lead, it's always a good feeling," Stutzle said on scoring the first goal of the game against the Panthers in his postgame interview.
With four goals away from breaking the record, and scoring two goals in the first game of the season, Stutzle is off to a strong start. Bigger things are yet to come for Stutzle this season with his ability to score goals.