Jake Oettinger seems eager to make a push for the olympics roster
Photo credit: Dallas Morning News
Jake Oettinger enters 2025-26 with eyes on Olympic glory and a Stanley Cup breakthrough.
The Dallas Stars will open their 2025-26 season in Winnipeg on October 9, but for Jake Oettinger, the real story goes beyond the schedule.
After a crushing end to last season, the 26-year-old goalie has two massive goals on his mind, one he can chase right away, and one that will take months of work.
The short-term mission? Earn a spot on Team USA's roster for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina. The long-term mission? Finally break through in the Stanley Cup Playoffs after three straight Western Conference Final exits.
At the recent Shoulder Check Showcase, Oettinger admitted the Olympic carrot is driving him.
«This would be one of the cool stories of my career,» he said. «It's something I have circled.»
Dallas Stars goalie Jake Oettinger looks to silence critics and secure Olympic spot
Oettinger's main competition for that Olympic job is Connor Hellebuyck, the reigning Hart and Vezina winner. But when Dallas eliminated Hellebuyck's Winnipeg Jets in last year's playoffs, the numbers favored Oettinger, a 2.02 GAA and .929 save percentage compared to Hellebuyck's 2.20 and .905.
That's part of why Oettinger believes a fast start is key.
«I get off to a great start, then that's all I can control,» he said.
This will also be the first season of Oettinger's eight-year, $66 million deal, which means expectations will be even higher after a 36-win campaign in 2024-25.
Dallas still boasts its core, Mikko Rantanen, Roope Hintz, Wyatt Johnston, Miro Heiskanen, while new coach Glen Gulutzan tries to find that «one degree» to push them over the top.
The question is whether that degree is in the crease.
For me, Oettinger has the tools, but it's about proving he can own the moment deep in May. And if he does, Dallas might not just send their goalie to Italy, they might finally send him to the Stanley Cup Final again.
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