(Sports Correspondent: Imran Sohail)
Jake Oettinger Ready for Fresh Start as Dallas Stars Open Training Camp
Dallas Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger says he is determined to use last season’s tough ending as motivation for the future.
Oettinger was pulled just over seven minutes into Game 5 of the Western Conference Final against the Edmonton Oilers after giving up two quick goals. The Stars went on to lose the game and the series, marking their third straight playoff exit in the conference final.
Looking back, the 26-year-old goalie said he believes the experience will make him stronger:
“In the long run, I feel like I’m going to look back on it as something that helped me,” Oettinger said on the opening day of training camp. “And when we do win it all, it’s going to feel like that was something I had to go through.”
The decision to pull Oettinger was made by then-coach Pete DeBoer, who defended the move but later admitted he regretted how he explained it. The Stars parted ways with DeBoer shortly after the season, though management said the goalie switch wasn’t the sole reason.
Oettinger, who begins his eight-year, $66 million contract extension this season, has established himself as one of the league’s top young goalies. In 251 career games, he holds a 149-66-27 record with a .912 save percentage and a 2.52 goals-against average. In the playoffs, he has nearly identical numbers across 65 starts.
Teammates have praised his work ethic and consistency. Newly extended forward Mikko Rantanen called him “a top-three goalie in the league” and a major asset for Dallas moving forward.
With a new season ahead, Oettinger is focusing on growth rather than regrets. His goal remains clear: to help the Stars finally break through and capture the Stanley Cup.
