The New Jersey Devils have some big decisions to make whenever the 2020 NHL Draft comes around and one prospect is really turning heads.
The New Jersey Devils are desperate for an impact draft beyond the first-overall pick. They still have a chance at that vaunted first pick and Alexis Lafreniere, but you almost have to assume that there is no way they win it for the third time in four years. It would be great if they did but we don’t really know when the lottery will be held either.
There is a lot of hype around this draft being a deep one. There are players like Quinton Byfield, Jamie Drysdale, and Marco Rossi who have been projected top-ten picks or better for a long time now. One player who has risen up the rankings quickly this season is Tim Stutzle. He is a German-born forward that currently plays for the Adler Mannheim of the Champions Hockey League.
He wasn’t on many people’s radar earlier in the season but now there are rankings out there that have him as the number two selection in the draft. He is also lower on mock drafts depending on where you look. The thing is, the Devils could potentially have two picks inside the top ten so Stutzle could really be an option for them.
He is an intriguing option because he can play the wing and play center. The Devils need wingers so adding one like Stutzle could be awesome. He is 18 years so there is still lots of development but seeing him on a wing with Jack Hughes or Nico Hischeir 2-3 years down the line really would be something. It would all depend on how other teams see Stutzle on draft day but if he is the best player on the Devils’ board they should take him.
Stutzle had seven goals and 27 assists for 34 points in 41 games for Adler Mannheim. He also had five assists for five points for Team Germany in the 2020 World Junior Championships. Germany hasn’t had the success of the United States, Canada, Finland, Russia, or Sweden in hockey but they are making a rabid climb. With an elite player like Leon Draisaitl leading the way for Hockey Germany, they could go a long way.
The Devils landing Stutzle would be an awesome addition. He could be the guy who goes a few picks down and people look back and wonder how someone didn’t take him sooner. There is also a chance that he isn’t even available to them at all no matter where they pick unless they win one of the first two lottery spots. It is very important that they get at least two impact players from this draft and Tim Stutzle could absolutely be one of them.