Tim Stutzle isn’t losing any sleep over Brad Marchand’s latest jab.
The Senators forward was asked Tuesday about the Florida Panthers veteran’s social media reaction to the idea of Stutzle becoming Ottawa’s next captain, and he made his stance clear. “I don't really care, to be honest,” Stutzle told reporters Tuesday.
“I don't care about that at all. I mean, Drake (Batherson) was calling me right after, that's his neighbor.
I don't care. I think he's a great player.
That's what he's trying to do, get in other guys' heads. I respect him as a player.”
The comment that set things off came after Stutzle was included among the reported finalists for Ottawa’s captaincy in an Instagram post on Aug. 25.
Marchand responded underneath with, “Hahahah ... Stutzle ... hahaha.”
Batherson, who is also from Nova Scotia and knows Marchand well, said he texted him after seeing the post and fired back with, “Marchy, what are you doing?”
He said the exchange was typical of Marchand. “That's just Marchy.
He's been doing that for years. I told Timmy it's all good,” Batherson added.
Marchand’s reputation for getting under opponents’ skin has followed him for years, and it has carried onto social media as well. After winning the Stanley Cup with Florida in 2025, he thanked other NHL teams for helping the Panthers build their championship roster and later joked about a possible move to the Toronto Maple Leafs.
The backdrop to all of it is Ottawa’s leadership picture after the Senators traded captain Brady Tkachuk to the Panthers in June after he requested a trade. Tkachuk will now be Marchand’s teammate.
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