With the third overall pick in the 2020 NHL Draft, the Ottawa Senators selected German forward Tim Stutzle. Selecting Stutzle has proven to be the right pick by the Senators.
Fast forward one month before the upcoming 2025-26 season begins, Stutzle's 326 career points are the most among any player from the 2020 draft class. At 23 years old, Stutzle has reached superstar level.
After making the 2025 playoffs, the Senators will have higher expectations and ceilings from everybody. For Stutzle, he's already made it clear of what the Senators' goals are for this upcoming season that should excite Sens fans.
Stutzle wants Senators to be a consistent playoff team every year
Yesterday, the Senators held a charity golf event. After the event, Stutzle discussed what his expectations are for the upcoming season. With the comments he made, it's clear Stutzle's bar for the Senators are high.
Tim Stützle and the Senators are hungry for more 😤 pic.twitter.com/aSMzGNMPLT
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) September 8, 2025
"We know what it felt like last year making the playoffs, and we want to feel that every year," Stutzle said.
With the goal he said for the Senators, it's clear that Stutzle wants more for the team for not only this season, but in the future. 2025 was the first time the Senators made the playoffs since 2017. It's clear Stutzle is hungry to build more success in Ottawa after waiting to make the playoffs until 2025 after he was drafted in 2020.
Stutzle wants the Senators to return to a consistent playoff team that the franchise once was. From 1997-2008, the Senators made the playoffs every year, so the franchise knows what it once was to be a consistent playoff team every year.
With Stutzle on the team, the Senators are capable of being a consistent playoff team. Last season, Stutzle led the Senators with 55 assists and 79 points. Stutzle has recorded at least 70 points in a season over the past three years, and one of those seasons was a 90-point season in 2022-23.
Along with having Stutzle, the Senators have a talented roster with depth. Captain Brady Tkachuk leading the way will always put the Senators in contention to win. Last season, Linus Ullmark became the first Senators goaltender to win 25 games in a season since Dominik Hasek in 2005-06.
Jake Sanderson, Thomas Chabot, Drake Batherson, Shane Pinto, Dylan Cozens, Claude Giroux, Ridly Greig, Artem Zub, Fabian Zetterlund, Leevi Merilainen and more make solid depth for the roster. The Senators' young core of players will be destined to not only grow more, but be part of the franchise for many years.
It's clear that moving forward the expectations are high for the Senators with Stutzle's comments. Now, the first step to being a consistent playoff team begins this season for the Senators.
The Senators' season opener is scheduled for Oct. 9 on the road against the Tampa Bay Lightning.