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Jake Oettinger

West Notes: DeBoer, Brown, Caggiula

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A coaching controversy is brewing in Dallas. According to David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period, Dallas Stars players were displeased with Pete DeBoer’s coaching tactics during the Western Conference Final and his postgame remarks after Game 5.

Pagnotta correctly noted that DeBoer’s contract concludes after the 2025-26 NHL season, so it could be some time before they make a move on DeBoer’s future, assuming they turn their players’ feedback into actionable consequences. It seems that much of the frustration is stemming from DeBoer’s treatment of netminder Jake Oettinger, whom he unceremoniously pulled in Game 5 after allowing two goals on two shots.

DeBoer’s comments after the game did nothing to help. Chastising Oettinger to the media after being eliminated from the postseason, DeBoer said, “I didn’t blame it all on Jake, but the reality is if you go back to last year’s playoffs, he’s lost six of seven games to Edmonton. And we give up two goals on two shots in an elimination game. … That’s a pretty big sample size.” Whether DeBoer is correct in his assessment of Oettinger, it was not a professional comment to make publicly, and the Stars players are responding in kind.

Other notes from the Western Conference:

  • The Edmonton Oilers will have one of their depth forwards back for Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final. Earlier today, Sportsnet’s Mark Spector passed along a note from Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch, indicating Connor Brown will return on Wednesday. Brown missed the last two games of the Western Conference Final (and much of Game 3) after being hit in the head by Stars defenseman Alexander Petrovic.
  • According to a team announcement, now-former Oiler forward Drake Caggiula has signed a one-year contract with the NL’s Lausanne HC. It’ll be the first time that Caggiula has played abroad in a professional setting. He spent much of the 2024-25 season with Edmonton’s AHL affiliate, the Bakersfield Condors, scoring 24 goals and 52 points in 62 games.

Stars’ DeBoer, Oettinger Haven’t Spoken Since Elimination

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Dallas Stars head coach Pete DeBoer told reporters he hasn’t spoken to all-star goalie Jake Oettinger since pulling him early in Game 5 of the Western Conference Final — a revelation that left TSN Hockey analyst and former NHL goaltender Martin Biron puzzled.

The 26-year-old Oettinger opened the playoffs on a strong note but struggled against the Oilers, fading as the series wore on. His postseason came to a sudden end in Game 5, when he surrendered goals on the first two shots in a 6–3 loss that knocked the Stars out. DeBoer noted that the coaching staff discussed potentially sitting Oettinger for Game 4 of the Western Conference Final, citing his heavy playoff workload and the fact that he was dealing with an “upper-respiratory thing.” Despite all of this, Baron still finds it strange that DeBoer didn’t seek to discuss the situation with his star goaltender.

“My first reaction is that it’s mind-boggling. I get that you’re not going to talk to him Thursday night after the game. And Friday, no one is in the office. But Saturday morning, you know you’re going to talk to the media. So, you need to have that conversation and clear the air. Then you can address the media. I don’t know what they were thinking. And I think this is on Pete DeBoer and the organization. Jake Oettinger isn’t going to knock on the door and ask to talk. Imagine if Scott Arniel doesn’t go and talk to Connor Hellebuyck in this type of situation. Or if Jon Cooper doesn’t go and talk to Andrei Vasilevskiy in a situation like this. That would never happen,” Biron said.

For his part, Oettinger told reporters Saturday that while he was surprised to be pulled so early in Game 5, he understood the decision, noting that if he had made a save on either of the first two shots, he likely would have stayed in the game. Oettinger, who noted the illness he was dealing with didn’t hinder his performance, said he will use the setback as a learning opportunity and even joked about how often he was shown on the jumbotron after being pulled. “I don’t know why they kept showing me. I hadn’t even moved in like 30 minutes,” he joked.

He would go on to add, “It sucks. It’s embarrassing. Any time you get pulled, whether it’s the playoffs or regular season, you just want to get off the ice and crawl under your bed and not talk to anyone. But especially in a moment like that, it’s embarrassing.”

When asked directly whether he had any concerns about his relationship with DeBoer moving forward, Oettinger again chose to focus on his own performance rather than address his dynamic with the coach.

“I think for me it’s just the whole experience is something I’m going to learn from, and it’s just going to help me grow and be a better person and a better goalie. My job is to stop the puck, and I feel like I’m one of the best in the world when I’m playing well. So that’s all I’m going to focus on. All the extra stuff is just extra stuff. If I go out there next year and I’m the best goalie in the world, then this stuff doesn’t matter. One of (the media) could be coaching, and it wouldn’t matter,” he said.

Dallas Notes: Benn, Hintz, Lundkvist, Oettinger

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For the first time in his career, longtime Dallas Stars forward Jamie Benn is heading for free agency. That said, Benn told reporters he intends to play next season — and plans to do so with the Stars, per Taylor Baird of NHL.com.

The Stars’ captain said, “I’m going into the summer planning on playing next year. I don’t see myself going anywhere else. This is all I know. Hopefully, we can figure something out.”

Benn has played all 1,192 of his games in Dallas. The soon-to-be 36-year-old ranks second only to franchise legend Mike Modano in several key categories, including games played, points, goals, and shots on goal. He also secured the franchise’s only Art Ross Trophy when he posted 87 points during the 2014-15 season.

This past season, Benn proved he can still contribute in a bottom-six role, finishing with a respectable 16 goals and 49 points. However, his production dipped in the postseason, where he managed just three points in 18 games.

Elsewhere with the Stars:

  • GM Jim Nill confirmed that forward Roope Hintz sustained a foot fracture after being slashed by Edmonton Oilers’ defenseman Darnell Nurse in Game 2 of the Western Conference Final, according to Lia Assimakopoulos of the Dallas Morning News. The injury kept Hintz out of Game 3, and while he was on the ice for Games 4 and 5, the injury limited the defensively responsible forward. The slash was originally called a major penalty; however, the referees later downgraded it to a minor, much to the frustration of coach Pete DeBoer. Nill also confirmed that defenseman Nils Lundkvist was recently cleared by his surgeon for full contact in practice. Lundkvist underwent shoulder surgery in February that was originally labeled as a season-ending procedure. However, DeBoer noted at the start of the playoffs that Lundkvist could have potentially returned if the Stars made a deep enough run. While Lundkvist ultimately wasn’t able to return, it appears he’ll have a clean bill of health heading into next season.
  • DeBoer also noted that the coaching staff discussed potentially sitting goalie Jake Oettinger for Game 4 of the Western Conference Final, citing his heavy playoff workload (more than any other goalie) and the fact that he was dealing with an “upper-respiratory thing,” per Assimakopoulos. The 26-year-old started strong in the playoffs but cooled off considerably against the Oilers. His postseason ended abruptly in Game 5, when he allowed two goals on the first two shots he faced in a 6–3 loss that eliminated the Stars.

Poll: Who Will Win The Western Conference Finals?

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The Western Conference finals are set, as the defending conference champion Edmonton Oilers will take on the Dallas Stars, led by the phenomenal play of Mikko Rantanen. It’s a rematch from last season’s conference final, where the Oilers came out on top in six games.

The Oilers have been on a heater since starting round one with a 2-0 series deficit against the Los Angeles Kings. Since then, the Oilers have lost just one game, winning four in a row against the Kings before taking down the Golden Knights in five games. Unsurprisingly, the team is being led by superstars Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, who have combined for 33 points in 11 games. The Oilers lead all teams with 43 playoff goals, averaging nearly 4 goals per game.

The Oilers have also benefited from standout play by defenseman Evan Bouchard, who leads the team with 26:24 of ice time per game in the playoffs, while contributing 12 points and a team-high 13 takeaways. This continues Bouchard’s tremendous playoff run from last season, when he recorded 32 points and a plus-14 rating, helping the Oilers reach Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final.

An intriguing storyline for the Oilers heading into the Western Conference Final is the performance of their goaltenders. Despite the team cruising through two rounds, Calvin Pickard and Stuart Skinner have combined for just an .886 save percentage, which doesn’t inspire much confidence during a playoff run. At some point, it stands to reason that the Oilers may struggle to sustain their momentum with that level of goaltending. That said, Pickard has been perfect since stepping in as the starter, posting a 6-0 record and providing timely saves when needed.

The Stars are being carried by Rantanen, whose league-leading 19 playoff points have been nothing short of spectacular. However, offensive support from the rest of the roster has been inconsistent. Wyatt Johnston, who tallied 71 points during the regular season, has managed just eight in the playoffs and carries a troubling minus-13 rating. Veterans Tyler Seguin and Jamie Benn have struggled to make an impact, while 20-goal scorers Evgenii Dadonov and Mikael Granlund have failed to replicate their regular-season production. Despite Rantanen’s heroics, Dallas enters the Western Conference Final with a minus-four goal differential.

That also includes the exceptional goaltending of Jake Oettinger, who has posted a .919 save percentage through 13 playoff games. The 26-year-old has been a consistently reliable performer in the postseason, carrying a .913 save percentage over 60 career appearances. His steady presence in the net will be critical as Dallas prepares to face Edmonton’s high-powered offense.

So, what will win out: the Oilers’ explosive offense, or the Stars’ stout goaltending and the heroics of Rantanen? It’s a clash of strengths that could define the rematch. Vote in our poll, then head to the comment section below to share your thinking!

Stars Extend Jake Oettinger

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The Stars have signed star goaltender Jake Oettinger to an eight-year, $66MM extension, the team confirmed. He’ll count $8.25MM against the cap starting next season through the 2032-33 campaign.

Per PuckPedia, Oettinger’s deal is nearly a photocopy of the one Bruins netminder Jeremy Swayman signed earlier this month, only affording him a no-move clause for an additional year because of his age. The full breakdown is as follows:

2025-26: $6MM base salary + $4MM signing bonus
2026-27: $6MM + $4MM SB, full no-move clause
2027-28: $5.5MM + $2MM SB, NMC
2028-29: $5MM + $3MM SB, NMC
2029-30: $5.5MM + $2.5MM SB, NMC
2030-31: $5.5MM + $2.5MM SB, NMC
2031-32: $5MM + $2.5MM SB, 10-team yes-trade list
2032-33: $4.5MM + $2.5MM SB, 10-team no-trade list

Oettinger, 25, has firmly established himself as one of the league’s top young netminders over the past four years. After Dallas made him the 26th overall pick of the 2017 draft, he made his NHL debut during the COVID-shortened 2020-21 season. He’d taken over as the Stars’ No. 1 by the following year and hasn’t looked back, finishing as high as fifth in Vezina Trophy voting in 2022-23.

Through his first 196 NHL appearances, Oettinger boasts a sparkling 116-48-23 record – due significantly in part to having one of the deepest skater corps in the league in front of him during that time. He’s logged a .914 SV%, 2.49 GAA, 11 SOs, and a cumulative 44.2 GSAA. The Minnesota native has yet to post below-average numbers in a single season, although he came close last year with a .905 SV% and a 2.7 GSAA in 54 games. He responded well with a .913 SV% in 19 postseason games, though, quieting most concerns about any long-term regression.

He’s also burst out of the gates this year with a .948 SV%, 1.63 GAA, and a shutout in three showings. That’s helped Dallas to a 4-0-0 record that has them tied for first in the league with the upstart Flames. That hot start may have urged the Stars to get a contract signed before Oettinger increased his market value even more – Frank Seravalli of Daily Faceoff reports the two sides had been negotiating this extension for less than a week.

The former Boston University standout is a core piece of a Stars club that’s firmly in a championship contention phase after making the Western Conference Final in back-to-back seasons. Getting his extension done now allows them to keep the momentum going and give two-time general manager of the year Jim Nill more time to plan for extensions for some big-name forwards, including captain and pending UFA Jamie Benn and pending RFA Wyatt Johnston. Dallas has almost $25MM in projected cap space next season after the deal, assuming a salary cap of $92.5MM, with 10 roster spots to fill.

It’s also not surprising to see Oettinger put pen to paper on a long-term deal. They’ve prioritized term on extensions whenever financially possible, inking roster staples like Miro Heiskanen and Roope Hintz to eight-year deals over the past few years. They haven’t shied away from bridge deals when need be, though, such as Jason Robertson’s four-year, $31MM contract and Thomas Harley’s two-year, $8MM deal.

Oettinger was undoubtedly the top pending RFA in terms of netminders on next year’s market. Without many NHL options remaining on that list, that honor now likely goes to Buffalo’s Devon Levi.

Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet was first to report the contract and its terms.

Image courtesy of USA Today Sports.

Stars Notes: Robertson, Oettinger, Benn

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Star Dallas Stars forward Jason Robertson will miss the bulk of training camp after undergoing surgery this summer to remove a cyst from his foot, shares NHL.com’s Bruce LeVine. LeVine adds that Robertson just started skating again, and is still expected to join the team for the start of the regular season.

Robertson has emerged as perhaps the top player on a loaded Dallas roster. He crossed the 40-goal mark in both 2021-22 and 2022-23, capping the latter year off with a career-high 109 points. Those numbers came down to Earth last season, though his 80 points still led the Stars by 13 points. He’s proven just as impactful in the postseason, combining for 48 points in 55 games over the last three playoffs.

At 25, Robertson is still a stride away from his prime years but already sits among the league’s top scorers. His health and ability to contribute will be paramount as Dallas prepares for another run toward the Western Conference Finals.

Other notes out of Texas:

  • General manager Jim Nill shared in his opening day press conference that there have been no talks of an extension with goaltender Jake Oettinger, per Brien Rea of Bally Sports Southwest. Nill added that there are a few goalies on the open market that they’ll use to help price Oettinger, inadvertently mentioning the ongoing holdout between the Boston Bruins and Jeremy Swayman. Oettinger holds the upper hand to Swayman despite the two being the same age, with the former already achieving seasons of 50 and 60 games. He’s held strong in those outings, boasting a career save percentage of .913 through 193 games. Formerly a first-round pick, Oettinger has grabbed full control of Dallas’ starting role. He’ll look to be compensated as such as Dallas approaches a 2025 summer featuring an endless list of key pending-free agents, including Matt Duchene, Wyatt Johnston, and Jamie Benn.
  • Speaking of Benn, Nill also shared that he’ll be adamant about keeping the Stars’ captain when his deal expires. The GM went as far as saying, “As long as I’m GM, [Benn] is going to be a Dallas Star,” as captured by LeVine. Benn’s average ice time has decreased in the wake of Dallas’ emerging stars, but he remains a productive piece of the lineup – posting 21 goals and 60 points this season, and 33 goals and 78 points last season. He’s also played in every Stars’ regular season game dating back to the start of the 2021-22 season. At 35, Benn’s next deal is likely to carry him to retirement. Nill wants to ensure that happens with the only club that Benn has ever played for.

Game 1 Notes: Panthers, Oettinger, Henrique, Lindgren

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When they take on the New York Rangers tonight in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals, the Florida Panthers will have a fully healthy roster. Earlier today, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reported that Sam Bennett, Dmitry Kulikov, and Niko Mikkola skated at practice this morning, and the trio would be in the lineup this evening.

Bennett, who has seemingly become one of the more controversial players in this year’s postseason, has already had to sit out five games with a hand injury. In Game 2 of the team’s Round One series against the Tampa Bay Lightning, Bennett took a slapshot off the hand from teammate Brandon Montour, and would not play again until Game 3 against the Boston Bruins. Likely still dealing with some nagging pain from the injury, it is not expected to keep Bennett out of the action moving forward.

Unlike Bennett, there were no formal announcements of injuries for either Kulikov or Mikkola, although the latter left Florida’s bench with about three minutes remaining in Game 6 against the Bruins. With both players confirmed to be in the lineup for Game 1 tonight, a completely healthy defensive core for the Panthers should give the Rangers quite a bit of trouble in generating offense.

Other Game 1 notes:

  • On the other side of the bracket, the Dallas Stars may be dealing with some trouble in the net ahead of Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals against the Edmonton Oilers, as goaltender Jake Oettinger left practice early today with an illness (Article Link). The team is expecting Oettinger to be healthy and ready for the opening matchup tomorrow night, but it could certainly complicate matters in the crease. In this year’s playoff against the Vegas Golden Knights and Colorado Avalanche, Oettinger has started in all 13 games for the Stars, producing a solid .918 save percentage and 2.08 goals against average.
  • Staying in the Western Conference Finals, the Oilers are not expecting back forward Adam Henrique until at least Game 3 (X Link). Dealing with an undisclosed injury, Henrique only managed to play in Game 2 of Edmonton’s Round Two series against the Vancouver Canucks, and has not returned to the ice since. Now that the 2024 Stanley Cup playoffs have shrunk to only four teams, the Oilers will need all the help they can get up front to take down the Stars.
  • Moving back to New York, Dan Rosen of the NHL is reporting that defenseman Ryan Lindgren will enter into the lineup for Game 1. Although he has not missed a game this postseason, Lindgren did not skate with the team during Sunday’s optional skate and missed the team’s practices on Monday and Tuesday due to maintenance. Nevertheless, it appears that Lindgren will be good to go for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals this evening.

2024 King Clancy Trophy Nominees Announced

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Today, the NHL announced the 32 nominees for the King Clancy Memorial Trophy, annually presented to “the player who best exemplifies leadership qualities on and off the ice and has made a noteworthy humanitarian contribution in his community.”

Each team submitted their nominee; they are as follows:

Anaheim Ducks: Cam Fowler
Arizona Coyotes: Nick Bjugstad
Boston Bruins: Linus Ullmark
Buffalo Sabres: Alex Tuch
Calgary Flames: Andrew Mangiapane
Carolina Hurricanes: Jaccob Slavin
Chicago Blackhawks: Connor Murphy
Colorado Avalanche: Cale Makar
Columbus Blue Jackets: Zach Werenski
Dallas Stars: Jake Oettinger
Detroit Red Wings: Dylan Larkin
Edmonton Oilers: Darnell Nurse
Florida Panthers: Aleksander Barkov
Los Angeles Kings: Kevin Fiala
Minnesota Wild: Marc-Andre Fleury
Montreal Canadiens: Nick Suzuki
Nashville Predators: Roman Josi
New Jersey Devils: Jack Hughes
New York Islanders: Anders Lee
New York Rangers: Jacob Trouba
Ottawa Senators: Brady Tkachuk
Philadelphia Flyers: Scott Laughton
Pittsburgh Penguins: Bryan Rust
San Jose Sharks: Luke Kunin
Seattle Kraken: Jaden Schwartz
St. Louis Blues: Brayden Schenn
Tampa Bay Lightning: Nick Paul
Toronto Maple Leafs: Auston Matthews
Vancouver Canucks: Quinn Hughes
Vegas Golden Knights: Jack Eichel
Washington Capitals: Tom Wilson
Winnipeg Jets: Josh Morrissey

Unlike most awards which are voted on by the players or media, the winner of this award is selected by a committee consisting of Commissioner Gary Bettman and former winners of the King Clancy Memorial Trophy and the NHL Foundation Player Award, one that was awarded from 1997-98 through 2016-17.

Last year’s winner was Calgary’s Mikael Backlund.  The winner for this season will be revealed in late June.

Miro Heiskanen Set To Return Tonight

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Dallas Stars defenseman Miro Heiskanen is set to return to the lineup tonight after missing the last three weeks with a lower-body injury. Lia Assimakopoulos of The Dallas News reported that Stars head coach Pete DeBoer confirmed to the media this morning that Heiskanen would be returning as he took reps in his normal spot on the powerplay and in the line rushes.

Heiskanen was sidelined earlier in January after he was hurt in a game against the Colorado Avalanche. He collided with his own goalie and had to leave the game. Heiskanen ended up missing 10 games while he was out of the lineup and despite missing him and star goaltender Jake Oettinger for a stretch, the Stars went 6-3-1 in those 10 games.

Dallas replaced Heiskanen’s minutes by committee rather than having one player try and fill his role. It worked well as Esa Lindell, Ryan Suter, Jani Hakanpää, and Nils Lundkvist all averaged 17 minutes of ice time per game while the team was playing at even strength. Thomas Harley also took a lot of extra time as well, his average ice time at even strength increased by over two minutes per game.

With Heiskanen back in the lineup the Stars will be looking to close the gap in the Central Division as they currently occupy the third spot sitting three points back of the Winnipeg Jets and Colorado Avalanche. Heiskanen should give Dallas a boost, even if he hasn’t matched his offensive pace from last season. The 24-year-old was having a terrific season prior to his injury with four goals and 23 assists in 37 games.

Dallas Stars Assign Matt Murray To AHL

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Jan. 17: The Stars returned Murray to AHL Texas this morning, per a team release.

Jan. 16: The Dallas Stars have recalled goaltender Matt Murray from the Texas Stars of the AHL as they navigate the uncertainty of the injury suffered by backup Scott Wedgewood. Dallas Stars radio analyst Bruce LeVine believes that Murray will see more action during this NHL recall as Dallas is proceeding with caution when it comes to Jake Oettinger and still doesn’t know what the issue is with Wedgewood, who left Saturday’s game with an injury.

Murray’s recall likely means that Wedgewood will be unavailable for Dallas when they take on the Los Angeles Kings tomorrow tonight, although no official announcement has been made as of yet.

Murray has played a single NHL game this season, and it came in the form of his first career shutout against the Minnesota Wild back on January 8th. The 25-year-old made 23 saves in a 4-0 win for the Stars. He didn’t fare so well last season in the NHL, dressing in three games and going 1-2 with a .844 save percentage to go along with a 3.39 goals-against average.

In the AHL, the St. Albert, Alberta native has had a bit of a down season as he is 8-5-1 with a .908 save percentage and a 2.80 goals-against average. Murray was terrific last year for Texas as he appeared in 34 games and posted a record of 18-10-5 with a .911 save percentage and a 2.37 goals-against average.

Murray has been on a yoyo the last few weeks with Oettinger’s injury and now the potential injury to Wedgewood. Just last week, Murray was reassigned twice and recalled once, with his most recent AHL assignment happening five days ago.

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