Hey there, DBDers! Let’s start the slowest day by getting you up to speed with the Stars’ franchise goalie.
Jake Oettinger wants to be one of the best goaltenders in the world, and he doesn’t care who knows it. But first, the Dallas Stars’ franchise cornerstone needs to be the best goaltender from his country.
It’s a tall order when the competition includes U.S.-born standouts like Jeremy Swayman, Thatcher Demko and Connor Hellebuyck. But the rewards could be considerable for both Otter and the Stars. And the upcoming NHL 4 Nation Face-Off could determine the pecking order for the foreseeable future.
In his latest piece for D Magazine, Sean Shapiro takes a look at expectation vs. reality – starting with Otter’s chances at making Team USA from the outset:
Of [the] four teams, the Americans have the deepest goaltending pool, considering a group of four top-tier starters are competing for three roster spots. Heading into the 2024-25 season, Oettinger looks like the odd man out…. [He] really struggled for the first time in his career last season, which oddly was the first time he was selected to an All-Star Game. Oettinger’s save percentage dipped to .905 – .014 lower than in 2022-23 – and of his 54 starts he had 10 really bad starts (games with a sub .850 save percentage), according to Hockey Reference….
To be clear, Oettinger was fine across the postseason, but if he had played up to his own lofty expectations, the Stars might have been playing the Florida Panthers in the Stanley Cup Final. It also doesn’t help the résumé that Oettinger ran into a wall use-wise at the end of the 2023 playoffs, when the Stars also fell in the Western Conference Final.
Sean also confirms that the book is out on Oettinger: You beat him by going high. Now it’s up to him and Stars goalie coach Jeff Reese to rewrite that book:
If Oettinger can do that, he could represent his country in the best-on-best competition. Why does that matter for the Stars? Because being one of the top three American goalies in the NHL means Oettinger is also most likely a top-five goalie on the planet.
We’ve seen that form, in spurts and flashes, including in the legendary series against the Calgary Flames, but sustained excellence at that level over three to four months to earn a spot on Team USA? That would turn the Stars from a contender to the favorite in the Western Conference.
There’s much more at StrongSide. [D Magazine]
Stars Stuff
Blueliner Kyle Looft is staying in Cedar Park, thanks to a successful amateur tryout that led to a six-game appearance in the 2024 Calder Cup playoffs.
Around The Leagues
- So now Patrik Laine is a Hab. Good trade? Marc Dumont lays out the case for Laine being exactly what the Montréal Canadiens need. [Montréal Hockey Now]
- Team USA captain Blake Fiddler made a big splash at the 2024 Hlinka Gretzky Cup. Adam Tate brings you a list of the prospects to watch from this key U18 tournament. [McKeen’s Hockey]
Finally
They grow up so fast. Happy birthday week, Thomas Harley!