Comments / New

Stargazing, A Dallas Stars Puckcast – Episode 321: Goalie Goals

Wes and Mark talk about Jake Oettinger, total team defense, and the Stanley Cup Playoffs, in about that order.

Defending Big D's Stargazing podcast logo, featuring a Dallas Stars Victory Green cassette tape with tearaway jersey texture and nets over the sprocket holes, designed by Jason Lara
Logo design: Jason Lara | @NHLMaps

First of all, no: The Dallas Stars don’t need to sit Jake Oettinger, and fans need to let go of that talking point. And no: It’s not just because he tallied two shutouts in about a week.

In this episode of Stargazing, Wes and Mark talk about why the Stars have placed so much of their trust in Otter — and it has almost nothing to do with his future Vezina Trophy prospects. They also discuss what the Lian Bichsel-Tyler Myers pair can bring to a Stanley Cup Playoffs series, how to evaluate goalie performance as part of team defense, and which forwards should play on which lines during the postseason. They also expand their Expected Rawr (xRawr) chart to include even more current and historical Stars players.

Sometimes the solution that works is not the solution you had in mind. We’re Stargazing, and we’re a tree. We can bend.

Which Stars are in which xRawr quadrant? So far, Wes and Mark have calculated rankings for the following players, current and historic:

  • Sam Steel
  • Jason Spezza
  • Alex Radulov
  • Miro Heiskanen
  • Esa Lindell
  • Marty Turco

Let’s talk more in the comments. And please give us a rate, review, or share wherever you get your podcasts. It really makes our day.

Welcome to Stargazing. We love you.

The Dallas Stars' struggles in filling out their defense have defined much of their recent past. But will it define them in 2026-27? In Stargazing's annual Positional Puckcast, Wes and Mark examine the blueline and find…a solid, functional unit. They discuss the ever-steady top pairing of Miro Heiskanen and Esa Lindell, the advent of Nils Lundvist, what to expect from Thomas Harley, a future for Lian Bichsel, the Wall of Humanity Pairing Featuring Tyler Myers, who will win the seventh-defender spot, and ever so much more. Will Heiskanen ever get back on his strong side? Is that even a goal at this point? We're Stargazing, and we think Miro is better on his right-hand side than many actual right-handers. But let’s talk about it at Defending Big D. And please give us a rate, review, or share wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome to Stargazing. We love you. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
  1. On Defense
  2. Goals (In Net)
  3. Catching Up
  4. Plan A and Plan B
  5. Golfing Season

Talking Points