Dallas Stars` goaltender Jake Oettinger is looking forward to the day he can reflect with humor on the conclusion of the previous season. He was notably benched early in Game 5 of the Western Conference Final after conceding two goals from the only two shots he faced.
“Ultimately, I believe I`ll view it as a pivotal experience that contributed to my growth,” Oettinger stated on Thursday, marking the commencement of the Stars` training camp. “When we eventually secure the championship, it will be a moment to reminisce and chuckle, realizing that this challenging period was a necessary step on the journey.”
With Oettinger guarding the net, the Stars have advanced to the playoffs for four consecutive seasons. They have reached the conference final in the last three, with the Edmonton Oilers eliminating them in the most recent two.
In May, Oettinger was pulled just 7 minutes and 9 seconds into that decisive 6-3 loss. This proved to be a controversial decision by then-Stars coach Pete DeBoer, which generated significant discussion. Following the game, DeBoer highlighted that Oettinger had lost six of his preceding seven playoff encounters against the Oilers, expressing hope that a goaltender change would energize the team in a critical elimination match.
Evidently, the desired effect did not materialize. Instead, the move raised questions about its potential impact on the relationship between the coach and the 26-year-old goalie, whose substantial $66 million, eight-year contract extension, signed last October, is now in effect. The two did not immediately discuss the situation in the aftermath.
“It was somewhat exaggerated compared to its true gravity. I think things happen, emotions run high, and people spontaneously say or do things they might later regret,” Oettinger commented on Thursday. “I mean, I`ve certainly done that in my life, and I`m sure everyone here has too. You simply learn from it, and that`s precisely what I did.”
Eight days after their season concluded with that loss, the Stars dismissed DeBoer. General manager Jim Nill subsequently clarified that player feedback and the fallout from the Oettinger incident were not the sole reasons for moving on from a coach who amassed a 149-68-29 regular-season record and a 29-27 playoff record over three seasons in Dallas.
DeBoer`s Post-Game Reflections
In a story published this week, DeBoer conveyed that while he maintains no reservations about his decision to pull Oettinger, he does regret his handling of the post-game narrative. “Listen, we all shared the blame for falling short again, and that responsibility begins with me,” DeBoer stated in his first public comments since his dismissal. “It was on me, on all the coaches, all the players, and the organization as a whole. We collectively contributed to that disappointment. The fault was communal, not isolated to one individual.”
Regarding his accurate mention of Oettinger losing six of the previous seven playoff games against Edmonton over two years, made in response to a post-game inquiry about the goalie switch, DeBoer expressed that he should have more explicitly conveyed that those losses were a collective team responsibility. “It wasn`t just him; it was all of us,” DeBoer emphasized. “It was all of us.”
When asked Thursday about DeBoer`s recent statements, Oettinger simply responded, “I believe he articulated it perfectly, so let`s leave it at that.”
A Young, Exceptional Goaltender
Oettinger was a key part of the Stars` impressive 2017 draft class, selected 26th overall late in the first round. This followed Dallas`s third overall pick of standout defenseman Miro Heiskanen, and high-scoring forward Jason Robertson was chosen 39th overall in the second round.
Across 251 regular-season games (242 starts) over five NHL seasons, Oettinger boasts a record of 149-66-27, a .912 save percentage, and a 2.52 goals-against average. In 65 playoff appearances, he holds a 32-30 record with a .912 save percentage and a 2.56 GAA. Notably, only two of these playoff games were not starts, occurring during his NHL debut in the pandemic-affected 2020 season, which concluded in a Canadian “bubble.”
“He is, without a doubt, one of the top three goaltenders in the league,” remarked Mikko Rantanen, a trade deadline acquisition last March who, like Oettinger, is commencing an eight-year contract extension. “Having a goalie you can unequivocally trust is a tremendous asset. Furthermore, he`s a dedicated worker off the ice; you can see his desire to constantly improve, which is also incredibly valuable.”
