I think overall the most obvious element about Stutzle was that he had a terrific puck handling abilities and agility. Things we see from Patrick Kane, Panarin, and even Kaprizov. I think people are completely looking over the fact that the Byfield archetype is much more rare than the Stutzle archetype for a REASON. I don't see how people struggle to get that through their heads. There's a reason why Stutzle was ready for the NHL and Byfield wasn't. No one again is saying that Byfield WONT turn out to be a real good player, what people are saying is that Stutzle was already showing that he is close to being a really good NHL player by the archetype he fell under.
People have such a boner for Byfield for unwarranted reasons other than they hope he is going to get better, and people are annoyed that Stutzle is showing to be the better player at the moment. The Pro-Stutzle side saw a guy who was likely going to be a great player and the Pro-Byfield side is HOPING that Byfields game translate well into the NHL because "OMG KOPITAR V2" while forgetting to mention that Kopitar himself is a rare archetype. and if you think "OMG OF COURSE IT WILL THESE PEOPLE GET PAID TO SCOUT OMFGHFUHSHFD". DL drafted Hickey. Some of you guys give them way too much credit. Blake hired Willie D after Stevens. Don't forget the fact that these are humans who get paid to do a job that they can end up sucking in and get fired from often.
Let Byfield prove himself to be a good player and worth choosing over Stutzle from. Until he does, get used to the fact that Stutzle is the better player currently. You don't always have to be such homers with the pinkest of glasses. I wanted Stutzle much more than Byfield before the draft, but again, if Byfield was tearing it up, I'd be more than happy to not only eat my hat, but everyone elses. No one wants to see Byfield fail to prove a point. I want Byfield to be much more successful than Stutzle because he's a king. Do I think it happens? Look above.
BTW I can't believe this point has to be made, but do you guys seriously keep bringing up Stutzles production on the Sens and overlook the likelihood how much more productive he'd be on the Kings right now? The Sens are a terrible team.
There's a difference between better player and more NHL ready player. Stuetzle spent last year learning from men in Germany and was given all the time he wanted on the ice at the WJC. He is definitely ahead of Byfield in terms of "I'm an 18yr old high pick hoping to play in the NHL."
You're currently comparing apples to, well different types of apples hah
Stuetzle is playing in the NHL, top 6 minutes on the W, given good opportunity, and doing very well with it against men.
Byfield is currently playing in the AHL, top 6 minutes at C, given good opportunity, and doing well with it against men.
Stuetzle has a year of playing against men in his pocket, and that will help him in terms of on ice and locker room confidence.
Byfield is being gifted a great opportunity right now, playing in the AHL when he should be in the O or sheltered mins in the NHL.
I don't see the negative here. I would not call Stuetzle the better player. He is more developed than Byfiled and can be slotted in to the NHL, and look very good. But Byfield is doing the same one level below. Let him learn from playing against men. He's 2 points from leading, what is a bad AHL team. AHL leader has 13pts.. Byfield can easily put up a 3pt game and go from 87 to 21 in AHL points. Awesome for a young 18yr old.
