Tim Stützle Signs Eight Year Extension with the Ottawa Senators

The Ottawa Senators German superstar Tim Stützle has locked up an eight year extension to keep him in the Canadian capital until 2031.

News Release: The #Sens have signed forward Tim Stützle to an eight-year, $66.8M (8.35M AAV) contract extension: https://t.co/GTSyZBd8wC pic.twitter.com/UODX6uakRP
— Ottawa Senators (@Senators) September 7, 2022

The deal will see the forward net $66.8 million across the eight years with an AAV (Annual Average Value) of $8.35 million a season to count agains the salary cap.

Stützle, 20, is currently on the final year of his rookie contract which was signed back in December 2020, which currently sees the German count to only $925,000 a season.

After a rather lukewarm rookie season where the former third overall pick in 2020 was only able to muster 12 goals and 29 points in 53 games, which saw him make his debut during an admittedly tough season during the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Last season saw Stützle take greater strides to live up to the high potential put on by being a lottery pick as he crushed previous season point totals with 22 goals and 58 points in 79 games, while also looking like a player coming into his own as well.

Ottawa will expect the rookie to surpass these numbers in the near future, locking up a future superstar for the long-term is a great look for a team looking to make strides and get back into playoff contention in the coming couple seasons.

There's some risk on the high salary based on what Stützle has shown to date, but his massive upside makes this a very worthy gamble based on his player comps.
A relatively fair deal that he should be able to grow into. pic.twitter.com/BZ5GM0U4pV
— dom (@domluszczyszyn) September 7, 2022

The team has certainly improved by adding the likes of Claude Giroux and Alex DeBrincat up front, the winger will have no shortage of talent to play with this season as the likes of Brady Tkachuk, Drake Batherson and Josh Norris will help solidify the Senators top six.

When the contract kicks in next summer, Stützle will be the highest paid player on the team , taking over from team captain Tkachuk, but with the Senators core locked up for the next five years at least, also including superstar defenceman Thomas Chabot, the Sens should be a very menacing team going forward.

One question remains for the Sens after resigning the young German, and that is when will current Restricted Free Agent Alex Formenton resign with the team?

Should the NHL Salary Cap increase dramatically over the course of the next few seasons and if Stützle keeps growing and improving this contract should look like a steal across the NHL in the coming years.