Ottawa Senators centre Tim Stutzle to play for Germany at worlds after all
Tim Stutzle has decided to take on the world after all.
The Ottawa Senators top centre has decided to suit up for Germany at the International Ice Hockey Federation championship that began Friday in Stockholm, Sweden, and Herning, Denmark.
While Stutzle had told reporters after the Senators were eliminated from the National Hockey League playoffs that he was interested in playing for Germany, indications were that he initially didn't plan to go, but had a change of heart after discussions with Ottawa and German team officials.
Stutzle wasn't on Germany's roster when it was submitted to the IIHF on Thursday, but made a last-minute decision on Friday to join the roster that also includes close friend Moritz Seider of the Detroit Red Wings.
The duo work out together during the off-season.
Germany will open the tournament on Saturday against Hungary, but team officials say Stutzle won't arrive in Denmark until this weekend and won't suit up for either of the first two round-robin games.
'We are, of course, delighted that Tim, a very high-quality player, is joining us and will further strengthen our team for the tournament,' German head coach Harold Kreis said in a statement. 'He demonstrated his strengths in the past NHL season and delivered a great season with the Senators.
'We had a very good and detailed conversation during our NHL trip, during which he reiterated his intention to join us. It's all the more pleasing that his participation in the world championship is now working out.'
Stutzle is coming off a strong NHL season. He led the Senators in scoring with 24 goals and 55 assists for 79 points. In the first-round playoff series against the Toronto Maple Leafs, he chipped in with two goals and three assists for five points in his playoff debut.
He won't suit up for his first game with Germany until Tuesday against Norway, meaning he'll also miss Sunday's contest against Kazakhstan.
That doesn't bother German general manager Christian Kunast, and the national team received the green light from Steve Staios, the Senators' president of hockey operations and general manager, before Stutzle agreed to attend the championship overseas.
'We are pleased that we have calmly resolved all the formalities and that he will be joining us,' Kunast said. 'We would like to take this opportunity to thank the Ottawa Senators, from whom we have already received approval for his participation, and we look forward to Tim's arrival here.'
Stutzle's late arrival meant forward Marcel Noebels, 33, who plays for the Berlin Polar Bears Deutsche Elite League, was sent home.
'We looked at the roles within our team and have now made this decision. We communicated this to the team this evening and sought an open discussion with Marcel,' Kreis said.
'From our perspective, he handled it professionally, even though he is naturally disappointed. We certainly respect him for his reaction and thank him for his efforts over the past few days.'
Stutzle last suited up for Germany at the 2022 IIHF world championship in Finland. This will be an opportunity for team management to get an idea of what their entry in the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy, will look like.
Senators centre Shane Pinto, who is playing for the United States, will suit up for his first game of the world championship on Sunday. Defenceman Nikolas Matinpalo, who agreed to play for Finland, made his debut in a 2-1 victory over Austria on Friday.
bgarrioch@postmedia.com
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