Draisaitl of Oilers inspires fellow German Stuetzle going into NHL Draft

Tim Stuetzle hopes to become the highest Germany-born and trained player chosen in the NHL Draft in the same year Edmonton Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl became the first Germany-born player to lead the NHL in points.

"As a German, you have to go with Leon [as a role model]," Stuetzle said Thursday. "He had an unbelievable season and is an idol for many kids. My personal icons also were Connor McDavid and Sidney Crosby but, as a German, it's Leon of course as well."

Draisaitl became the highest Germany-born and trained player selected when the forward was picked at No. 3 by the Oilers in 2014 NHL Draft. The 24-year-old won the Art Ross Trophy this season, leading the NHL in scoring with 110 points (43 goals, 67 assists).

Stuetzle, a left wing for Adler Mannheim of Deutsche Eishockey Liga, Germany's top professional men's league, scored 34 points (seven goals, 27 assists) and had 132 shots on goal in 41 games this season.

Ranked No. 1 by NHL Central Scouting among International skaters, Stuetzle was selected No. 2, No. 3 and No. 4 in NHL.com's latest mock draft in April.

"My goal is to be drafted as high as possible," Stuetzle said on a German-language video call hosted by NHL.com/de. "My goal is to get chosen under the first three picks."

In the 51-year history of the NHL Draft, five players born and trained in Germany have been selected in the first round, but never more than one in any year: forwards Draisaitl, Marco Sturm (No. 21, San Jose Sharks, 1996), Marcel Goc (No. 20, Sharks, 2001), and Dominik Bokk (No. 25, St. Louis Blues, 2018), and defenseman Moritz Seider (No. 6, Detroit Red Wings, 2019).

In addition to Stuetzle, right wing John-Jason Peterka of EHC Munich (DEL) and left wing Lukas Reichel of Eisbaren Berlin (DEL) could be selected in the first round. Peterka is No. 7 in NHL Central Scouting's ranking of International skaters; Reichel is No. 11.

"I think that Leon is a role model for every German player," Reichel said. "For me, I've looked up to Patrick Kane since I grew up. I've liked him since I was a kid and I'm still following his career. It's good to see what he can do in the NHL ... he's playing consistent."

Seider, the highest Germany-born defenseman chosen in the NHL Draft, scored 22 points (two goals, 20 assists) in 49 games for Grand Rapids of the American Hockey League in his first season in North America.

"A German winning the Art Ross might be a one-time thing," Seider said of Draisaitl. "We'll all agree that Leon is an exceptional talent that has not reached his peak yet. There is still more to expect from him. It's good that the German hockey is getting into the focus a little more. Hopefully there'll be some more people that get into hockey in the future and will follow the ice hockey in North America as well."

Seider was named DEL Rookie of the Year when he played for Mannheim in 2018-19. Stuetzle, who won DEL Rookie of the Year this season, said he is looking forward to the First Phase of the NHL Draft Lottery on June 26.

"The lottery is good to see were you might land," Stuetzle said. "But at first it doesn't mean anything until it comes down to the draft. I don't care which team is going to pick me. The most important thing is to get the chance to play in the NHL. That would be a great honor. I wouldn't say no if I'd join [Seider] in Detroit. That would be so much fun. Or [with the Los Angeles Kings] with Marco Sturm being the assistant coach."

Detroit has the best odds to win the No. 1 pick (18.5 percent); Los Angeles is fourth (9.5 percent).

Stuetzle's 0.65 assists per game and 0.82 points per game are the highest averages by an under-18 player in the history of the DEL.

"It's my goal to have an instant impact and can play an important role in the NHL," Stuetzle said. "I was lucky that (Mannheim coach) Pavel [Gross] let me play with older players like [Ben Smith] or Tommi [Huhtala]. I'm very thankful for that. I think that I earned my role and my place in the lineup.

"Of course, my goal is to take a leading role and consistently play in the NHL one day. But at first, you have to get there."