There is no doubt that Tim Stutzle is one of the most talented players in the NHL. Drafted third overall in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft, Stutzle continues to improve and has started the season with three points in two games.
He recorded a career-high of 90 points in the 2022-23 season, and at only 22, he’s already one of the most skillful players in the league. He’s known for his amazing stickhandling, great skating, and 1-on-1 abilities.
But unfortunately, he’s also known for his diving.
Ever since his big breakthrough, Stutzle has earned a reputation for falling easily in certain situations. He’s drawn several soft penalties due to overreacting in some incidents, and last year, then-Toronto coach Sheldon Keefe lost his temper on the bench after defenseman Simon Benoit was whistled for tripping Stutzle. It led to Keefe screaming, “Biggest diver in the f—king NHL,” directed at Stutzle.
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Stutzle was involved in another incident this pre-season when Arber Xhekaj was ejected from a game due to a high hit on him. However, replays showed Xhekaj made contact with his chest, not his head, which again led to fans accusing the German-born forward of embellishment.
Now, taunting Stutzle for his many diving incidents has become a regular thing for opposing fans, leading to a hilarious moment in Saturday’s game between the Montreal Canadiens and Ottawa Senators.
HFTV, a social media channel run by Canadiens fans, decided to bring a sign to the game featuring Stutzle wearing diving gear. They got down to ice level during warmups and showed the sign to the Senators’ players, and the video of the players’ reactions has now gone viral.
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Nick Cousins was the first player to notice the sign, and when he did, he immediately skated over to Brady Tkachuk and, with a laugh, pointed at it. One player, Thomas Chabot, even decided to shoot a puck at the glass, right where the sign was held up by the fans, who also wore swimming goggles during the warmups. According to the video, Stutzle didn’t pay any attention to the sign, but he must have found it absolutely hilarious. Well done to these fans—what a chirp!
