After a stellar start to the 2024-25 season, posting a 1.63 GAA and .948 SV% in three games (3-0-0), impending RFA Jake Oettinger has signed a massive eight-year, $66 million contract extension. The extension mirrors the recent extension signed by fellow American netminder Jeremy Swayman with the Boston Bruins two weeks ago. Oettinger was the Stars' 26th overall pick in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft and has cemented himself as their starting goalie for the last three seasons. The 26-year-old Oettinger has a 2.49 GAA, .914 SV%, and 11 shutouts in 196 career appearances (116-48-23).
Dallas Stars News
The Stars have an afternoon contest against the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday and are likely opting to keep Jake Oettinger fresh for that matchup, resulting in DeSmith occupying the crease on Thursday against the Washington Capitals. DeSmith was excellent in his only start of the season, saving all 25 shots he faced in a 2-0 victory over the Seattle Kraken. The undefeated Dallas Stars (4-0-0), one of only three remaining teams without a loss, enters Thursday's matchup as a -153 road favorite against the Capitals.
Dumba will not require surgery but will be out of the lineup on a week-to-week basis. He exited Saturday's 3-0 win over the New York Islanders after playing only 6:02 time-on-ice and was replaced by Brendan Smith in the lineup on Sunday. The Stars have also recalled Alex Petrovic from the Texas Stars (AHL) for additional depth on the back end in Dumba's absence.
Seguin is off to a strong start to the 2024-25 campaign, scoring three points (2G / 1A) in his first three games but will sit out on Tuesday due to a lower-body injury. Mavrik Bourque will make his season debut by replacing Seguin.
Bourque was the 2023-24 AHL points leader with 77 (26G / 51A) in 71 games and was projected to crack the opening night roster for Dallas before suffering an undisclosed injury that caused him to exit the team's final preseason game. The 22-year-old Bourque was expected to play on a line with Jamie Benn and fellow rookie Logan Stankoven. He makes his season debut as Tyler Seguin draws out of the lineup due to a lower-body injury.
The Dallas Stars have not allowed a goal in consecutive games while alternating between Oettinger and Casey DeSmith in net. The Stars will return to Oettinger between the pipes on Tuesday in a matchup where the Stars are significant -341 home favorites against the San Jose Sharks. Two games into his 2024-25 campaign (2-0-0), Oettinger is sporting a spectacular 1.51 GAA and .957 SV%. That said, Oettinger has a .860 SV% in six career games against the Sharks (4-2-0), his lowest total against any team.
Petrovic has only played one regular season NHL game in the last five years but had an impact in seven playoff games with Dallas this past postseason. His call-up to Dallas could coincide with the injury of Matt Dumba (lower body). Dumba did not play on Sunday and was replaced in the lineup by Brendan Smith.
Matt Dumba left Saturday's game with a lower-body injury and is not expected to play Sunday, so Smith will draw in for his Stars debut. Smith had 15 points (5G / 10A), 60 SOG, 117 hits and 101 blocks in 63 games with the Devils last season.
Matt Dumba left Saturday's game with a lower-body injury and is not expected to play Sunday, so look for Smith to draw in for his Stars debut. Smith had 15 points (5G / 10A), 60 SOG, 117 hits and 101 blocks in 63 games with the Devils last season.
According to head coach Pete DeBoer, Dumba will have some imaging done on Monday, effectively ruling him out for Sunday's game. For now, the Stars are considering him day-to-day but expect and update early next week. Brendan Smith should draw into the lineup to replace Dumba on Sunday.
Oettinger stopped 33 of 36 shots in the Stars win in Nashville on Thursday. The Stars were outplayed but Oettinger turned in an excellent performance on opening night. On Saturday he'll face the Islanders as large -172 home favourites. Oettinger was 17-8-2 with a 2.78 GAA and .898 SV% in 28 home games last year.
Oettinger stopped 33 of 36 shots in the Stars win in Nashville on Thursday. The Stars were outplayed but Oettinger turned in an excellent performance on opening night. On Saturday he'll likely face the Islanders as large -172 home favourites. Oettinger was 17-8-2 with a 2.78 GAA and .898 SV% in 28 home games last year.
To no one's surprise, Oettinger will start for the Stars in their season opener against the Nashville Predators, who will likely turn to Oettinger's former understudy between the pipes, Scott Wedgewood. With the departure of Wedgewood from Dallas, the Stars signed Casey DeSmith to serve as Oettinger's backup this season. The 33-year-old DeSmith has started more than 30 games only once in his career, an indication that Oettinger will likely start more than the 53 times he did last season. As an impending RFA, Oettinger will also be hoping to improve on his statistics from last season when he posted an unspectacular 2.72 GAA and .905 SV% in 54 appearances (35-14-4).
Bourque was the 2023-24 AHL points leader with 77 (26G / 51A) in 71 games and was projected to crack the opening night roster for Dallas before suffering an undisclosed injury that caused him to exit the team's final preseason game. The 22-year-old Bourque was expected to play on a line with Jamie Benn and fellow rookie Logan Stankoven.
Bourque was the 2023-24 AHL points leader with 77 (26G / 51A) in 71 games and was projected to crack the opening night roster for Dallas before suffering an undisclosed injury that caused him to exit the team's final preseason game. The 22-year-old Bourque was expected to play on a line with Jamie Benn and fellow rookie Logan Stankoven.
Johnston had been unavailable for the latter half of training camp after battling an undisclosed injury but could be ready for the Stars' season opener on Thursday against the Nashville Predators. The 21-year-old is coming off a breakthrough season, scoring 65 points (32G / 33A) in 82 games, and is expecting to be a driving force for a deep Dallas Stars offense.
Saturday was the first time that Robertson's practiced since undergoing foot surgery in the offseason. Stars assistant coach Alain Nasreddine said the team remains optimistic that Robertson will be in the lineup on opening night.
Robertson underwent surgery on his foot on July 31st and according to Stars' GM Jim Nill, he'll miss the the majority of training camp. It sounds like Robertson is expected to be a participant at some point, so as of today there should be no concern that he will miss the start of the regular season. Expect updates throughout the next couple of weeks.
Fresh off a career year which saw Thomas Harley put up 15 goals, 47 points, and a +28 plus/minus in 79 games played, the 23-year-old has signed a two-year contract extension worth $4.0M AAV ($8.0M total). The towering 6'4" defenseman was Dallas' 2019 1st-round pick (18th overall) and is expected to take another step forward in 2024-25 after averaging only 21:01 TOI/GP in his first full campaign last season.