Jake Oettinger

Last Season

Fifty-four appearances, 35-12-6, a 2.59 goals-against average and a .8994 save percentage with four shutouts. His career figure across 305 games is .9099, so this was ten thousandths below his own standard.

The Physical Game

Six foot six and 225, and he plays the position the way the size suggests — deep, square, patient, letting the puck come to him. Against a Dallas defence that funnels shots to the outside, that is close to the ideal pairing.

The athleticism is better than the frame implies. He is quick across the crease for a man this large, and the rebound control is good.

The Mental Game

Thirty-five wins and a reputation as a big-game goaltender, built on a genuine history of it. Nothing about him suggests a player who wilts.

Which makes the last stretch worth flagging: .876 on 217 shots over his last ten appearances, while DeSmith behind him finished the season at .9066 across thirty games — better than the starter, on the same defence.

The Intangibles

Dallas finished fourth in the league in even-strength expected goals against and its goaltending came in six goals better than the chances faced. That is a good number and it is a long way below what a .910 career goaltender would normally add.

He is 27 and this was, by his standards, a mediocre season that a 35-win record concealed entirely. The club is built to win in the spring and the man in net finished the regular season stopping .876.

That is the single most important thing on this club’s page, and nobody looking at the standings would see it.