I think you are exaggerating his performance against USA, Russia, and Canada a bit. And also downplaying the quality of talent Stutzle got to play with on Germany. Stutzle was regularly on the ice with Peterka, Bokk, Seider, and Reichel. So while the rest of the German team was not talented the top end of that team was legit.
Stutzle played 58 total minutes against those top three teams and had 2 assists. I'm not knocking the kid for two assists, it's still solid for his age. But it's not like he was just saddled with trash linemates and lit those three good teams up.
Hi I see your reasoning and I need to clarify things just a little bit. Yes Seider, Bokk, JJP, and Reichel are incredibly talented players. I hope its okay if I respectfully disagree with you though.
Now I will dive into why. First and foremost JJP and Reichel are now considered 1st-2nd round talent. Before the WJC though, it was questionable if they would be drafted in the 3rd round let alone 1st. Many scouts, similar to people on this board and many hockey fans in general, have no idea how to gage the competition level of the DEL. In truth, there has never been a prospect pool like this to come out of the DEL in hockey history. So NHL scouts were unable to really project where they would go until they saw them at the WJC against competition they know how to gage.
Now look a Seider and his draft class. The central draft board listed him in the late 1st round. Yet Yzerman stunning a large amount of fans and scouts alike(including myself) took him at 6th. Yzerman selecting him at 6 was and is incredibly bold as if you go that far off centrals draft board and are wrong it could seriously be a GM career killer. If you are right people will praise the GMs genius. What caused the disperarity between the red wings board and the NHLs? It can only be linked to his scouting team holding the DEL in a regard that most of the NHL and hockey world as a whole does not. Most scouts go with players from leagues they know how to gage performance in. As of now, could change I suppose, it's looking like Yzerman is getting the genius nod.
Moving forward, yes Stützle actually deserves an insane amount of credit for his performance against Canada, The US, and Russia. To begin Canada has 6 players picked or that will be picked in the top 10 and 13 first round players in total. Their lowest skater was selected in the 4th round. US and Russia rosters were slightly less stacked , but only slightly as every player on the US was or would be drafted and 2 or 3 on russia may not. Compare that to Germany with 2 first round picks Bokk(late) Seider(early even though he was projected late), JJP(pre WJC who knows, post WJC before 3rd as a high as mid-late first), Reichel(pre WJC 3rdish round, post WJC mid 2nd latest, mid 1st earliest) 5 draft picks total on a team of 20 is kind far fetched compared to a team of over half 1st round picks. Add on top that Germany drew the hardest division. Of the 6 hockey power countries Germany had to play 4 of them.
Stützles stat line is not what should be looked at and it is wildly misleading(as is Byfield's for the WJC). What should be paid attention to is his play as a whole. Everytime he is on the ice watch him, not the game, him. How does he handle playing the top talent? Is the skill there, but no difference making? Is he a game changer or was he invisible against top talent? Every time he makes a good decision give him a plus every time he makes a poor decision give him a minus. Very few minuses if you watch his games. Kid makes the right decisions. His hockey IQ , hands, and speed pop. His play without the puck needs some work, but most kids in the draft do. Overall and most importantly he stood out against the best of the best(in his age group). Watching his games it was obvious he is a difference maker. I fully believe his greatest strength is that he can quarterback or run an NHL powerplay the instant he is drafted.
Byfield also looked great at WJC despite the low stats his play off the puck in the offensive zone is spectacular. The kid is always where he should be. His play in the D zone was less impressive. He does make the wrong read a good amount. Talent is there. His offensive positioning was most impressive to me though. Shot was good, shot selection typically great because of positioning, but he does force bad angel low percentage shots.
I'm sorry I called him ST I'm really not sure why I did just a mental error, it happens. Both great players still. And I'm pretty sure no matter what is said everyone is still gonna have a personal preference because there is no right answer. Years from now there may be, but well until then it is all just speculation.
Also if you guys really want to see how the CHL translates to the DEL Taro Jentzsch was a near ppg player in the QMJHL and he is on a DEL roster now. So if he shreds you have your answer. If he doesn't, well it looks like you still have your answer
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