Tim Stützle has made headlines ahead of Brady Tkachuk's emotional return to Ottawa, adding another layer of intrigue for Travis Green and the Senators.
Tkachuk returns to Canadian Tire Centre on Wednesday night for the first time since requesting a trade and being sent to the Florida Panthers this summer.
Several former teammates arranged dinner with Ottawa's former captain Tuesday night, but one notable name was missing: Tim Stützle.
According to reporters Claire Hanna and Murray Pam, Stützle didn't attend the reunion and hadn't even spoken to Tkachuk since the Panthers arrived in Ottawa.
Asked about skipping dinner, the German forward offered a rather interesting explanation: "I have a chef at home, that's why I didn't go out for dinner."
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It's a comment that's already raising eyebrows. Stützle and Tkachuk shared the Senators' locker room for years, developing a close relationship before the captain decided his future was elsewhere.
Stutzle has some wise words for Tkachuk ahead of Ottawa return
While Stützle hasn't publicly declared any personal issue with Tkachuk, his absence from Tuesday's gathering stands out, especially considering how other former teammates welcomed their old captain back.
Drake Batherson, for example, made it clear that Tkachuk's decision to leave Ottawa wouldn't change their friendship. Stützle's response was considerably less sentimental.
The situation becomes even more interesting considering Tkachuk spent eight seasons with the Senators before requesting the move that eventually reunited him with his brother Matthew in Florida.
Ottawa received three first-round draft picks and a second-round selection in the June trade, officially closing the chapter on Tkachuk's captaincy.
And the Panthers aren't arriving quietly. Tkachuk has recorded 10 points over his last four games, giving Ottawa another reason to be concerned about Wednesday's matchup.
The Senators have opened their season with a 6-3-0 record, showing they can compete without their former emotional leader. Now they'll have an opportunity to prove it directly against him.
Stützle may simply have preferred staying home Tuesday night. But with emotions running high and Ottawa fans preparing their reception for Tkachuk, his decision has become part of the storyline.
And when the puck drops Wednesday, all eyes will be on how these former teammates handle their first meeting on opposite sides.
Do you think Tim Stützle deliberately avoided Brady Tkachuk because he's still upset about the trade?
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