A fascinating storyline emerging in Ottawa through the early going of the season is the chemistry that Stephen Halliday is building with Tim Stützle.
Halliday would have had his third goal of the season on Thursday night had it not been called back for an offside zone entry. If it counted, it would have been the second Halliday goal this week with a primary assist from Stützle.
“He’s going to be one of the best players in the league,” said Stützle after taking morning skate with Halliday on his left wing on Thursday.
“I’m really impressed by his game, but he’s got to stay confident. Obviously, it’s not always easy when you’re a younger guy, and you don’t play as many minutes. But he’s got to stay confident and keep playing his game.”
Back up a second — did Stützle just say that Halliday would one day be one of the best players in the league? Indeed, he did. Lofty praise from the superstar.
Halliday could have been drafted alongside Stützle in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft but was passed over twice before eventually being selected 104th overall by the Senators in 2022.
Through 38 career NHL games, he’s scored six times and collected eight assists, but Stützle can clearly see that pace increasing — and if Halliday spends more time on his wing, like he did on Thursday night, then it’s not so hard to picture.
“I think he’s so skilled. He’s such a smart player. I think that as soon as he is winning all his puck battles — because he’s so big, nobody should be able to take the puck from him — he’s going to be one of the best players in the league,” said Stützle.
“He’s got to get competitive. I think that’s the most important part, is wanting to win that badly, that he has to do everything in his power to help us win, and I think he’s getting better every day, so it’s been awesome to see.”
Halliday didn’t have a quick progression to becoming a full-time NHL player like Stützle, who was promoted to Ottawa’s top six within the first few weeks of his rookie season in 2021. However, Stützle began his NHL career as a winger, unlike Halliday.
While Halliday had previously been playing centre in the bottom six before his move to the first line, one way to get to the top six is to play wing, like Stützle did at the beginning of his career.
“I actually started my career as a winger in minor hockey and then the first couple years in the USHL, and then I just played centre just because I’m more of a natural puck mover, and one of my coaches in the USHL put me at centre,” said Halliday, who said he worked on some specific winger attributes this summer in preparation for a potential move to the wing.
“I think just trying to give coach more options, whether I can play a wing, centre, right wing, any forward position. It kind of gives me 12 spots, versus four. So I think that's kind of a good mentality for me.”
And of course, Halliday would welcome the opportunity to continue playing with Stützle and Drake Batherson on the first line.
“I think there’s a combination of not trying to complicate it, but also trying to make plays,” said Halliday.
“I think those two guys are obviously unbelievable players, so just trying to you know, get them the puck in space and kind of just try to play my game and make some plays.”
