Quoting: SammyT_51
He played like 2 games at centre in Germany. Even at WJCs, he played center for half a game total.
He is a natural winger
Europe is a lot of east west hockey though. There is more room on the edges for him to skate. So to compare over there to the NHL is two different things. You can take a winger like pool party and realize that east west wingers don't work in the NHL because there is no room.
You have to realize how fast he really is to understand why wing is not going to be the best choice to utilize his speed.
It would be like playing McDavid at wing because he sucks at faceoffs. You realize he covers more ground at center, easier, and is an instant threat on the ice because of it.
Same is true with Stuetzle. His skating is effortless and really smooth. Starts and stops are blazing fast. He's the guy you want in open space. Not pinned on the boards. Because on defense he can break it, and on offense he can create. That's sets people back on their heels. Putting him on the boards does not help with what his natural game is.
Which is why he projected as a center not a winger.
If you were playing on a wide rink you'd have more to go with. But you aren't.