Leaving Dallas would be ‘heartbreaking’ for pending UFA goalie Scott Wedgewood
Dallas Stars goaltender Scott Wedgewood bet on himself in 2022.
After being traded from the Arizona Coyotes to the Stars in March 2022, Wedgewood signed a two-year, $2 million extension to stay in Dallas. He was confident in his abilities and willing to accept a backup role behind Jake Oettinger to play on a winning team and have a chance to prove himself.
He did just that, on and off the ice. Wedgewood may not have the best numbers, as many backups don’t, but he has been the perfect fit for this Dallas team.
Now, as the Stars face many tough decisions this summer, Wedgewood’s future in Dallas is up in the air. The 31-year-old is set to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1.
Does he want to stay in Dallas?
“Yeah, definitely,” he told Daily Faceoff. “We’ve had our talks, and it hasn’t been in my favor. But we have a few days left here to see if there’s some work to be done. That’s been my goal from the moment I signed two years ago, to hopefully stay there and make it work long term. My wife loves it, we had our baby girl there, tons of family and some fans I feel like I’ve connected with. To leave would definitely be heartbreaking.”
In just more than two full seasons, Wedgewood has gone 28-16-11 with a .907 save percentage and a 2.83 goals-against average. He provided stability in the Dallas crease, proved he is more than capable of playing in tough situations and has given the Stars one of the most successful goaltending tandems in franchise history.
But his play on the ice has been far from his biggest contribution. More important than his numbers has been his relationship with Oettinger. The two goaltenders clicked from day one. Oettinger needed a backup that could take some of the workload off him but also be there to support him. Don’t forget, he is still only 25 years old.
Wedgewood was exactly that. He was there to play the tough games, he stepped into a starting role when Oettinger missed time with injuries and he was Oettinger’s biggest fan throughout every step.
“He’s the best goalie partner I’ve ever had in my career,” Oettinger told reporters. “Knowing that you have someone that has your back and wants you to genuinely do well. He’s helped me so much and just gives me confidence. I really, really want to see him back.”
So there are obviously plenty of reasons to bring Wedgewood back. But the NHL is also a business. And sometimes, they numbers just don’t work.
Dallas has one of the busier summers across the League. They have to adjust after losing Joe Pavelski to retirement, they have a long list of free agents, some very important ones, and they need to weigh their options when it comes to the future of their talented young players.
On the flip side, Wedgewood believes he has earned a raise. The numbers support his claim. Among 89 goalies to play at least 500 minutes at 5-on-5 over the past two seasons, he sits 18th in goals saved above average per 60 minutes. In other words, he has played more like a No. 1 than a No. 2 goalie. His current $1 million cap hit was a worthy risk to prove his value. He feels he has done that. The Stars and Wedgewood have had plenty of discussions surrounding a contract extension. But right now, the numbers that Dallas is offering are not matching up with what Wedgewood and his camp are looking for.
“Obviously, the more term you have, the more comfortable you are,” Wedgewood said. “But it’s a great team snug against the cap… They’ve got things to figure out… Paying [Matt Duchene] half of probably what he’s worth, [Chris Tanev] one-third of what he’s worth, you’ve got [Thomas Harley] coming up. Some pieces to be figured out. I think I’ve proved a vital piece, not only just on the ice but my chemistry with Oettinger and the team… They’ve kind of set a price for it, and we’re looking for a little bit more…
“I took a two-year, $1 million (per year) deal to play on a good team and put myself in a spot to hopefully get a little bit of a raise and earn some money with the years I have left after fighting to get to this point… It’s not all about the money, but I think I’ve done well enough to earn a little bit of a raise here, and I’m trying to see if I can get that.”
Spoke to pending UFA goalie Scott Wedgewood. Says he absolutely wants to stay in Dallas. Believes he earned a bit of a raise after betting on himself with a discounted 2-yr, $2M deal in 2022.
Currently, the number Dallas is offering is lower than he's looking for #Texashockey
Wedgewood and his agent will not be the only ones pitching for his return to Dallas. The bond he has built with Oettinger, as well as Stars goalie coach Jeff Reese, is something really special. And not something that happens very often in the NHL.
The Ontario native says he simply always wants to be there for Oettinger. He believes that Dallas has one of the best goaltenders in the League and is constantly preaching Oettinger’s abilities. So when it comes to supporting his goalie partner, Wedgewood does whatever it takes to make his job easier and allow him to feel as confident as possible.
“Something I’ve tried to do the best I can, regardless if he’s getting dressed or a helmet strap is off, or he’s putting on his shoulder pads and the straps are twisted and stuff,” he said. “I pop out of my seat, switch them for him and make sure he’s comfortable. I mean, I want the kid to succeed.
“You’re almost a resource at times, he can lay his worries or his questions or concerns on you, and I can be the middle man between him and the coaches or him and the team… I can stand up for him and Reese stands up for the both of us, and we’ve got a good little situation there.”
The praise goes both ways. Oettinger knows what Wedgewood means to him, his team and the organization as a whole. If the Stars are able to find a way to re-sign Wedgewood this summer, there is one player that will be happier than the rest.
Jake Oettinger.
“Just a great human being,” Oettinger said. “I think we work really well together and he, ‘Reeser’ and I have a pretty special thing going on. Hopefully, they see that and bring him back. No one would be happier than me.”
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