Why Jake Oettinger's minutes might define everything for Dallas in 2025-26

After three straight Western Conference Final appearances, Oettinger remains the backbone of the roster. At 26 years old, he's entering his prime, but his workload has become a major storyline heading into the season. Will new head coach Glen Gulutzan lean on him heavily again, or will Casey DeSmith get more opportunities to spell him off?

The balance might determine whether Dallas has the energy left in the tank for another deep playoff run.

Last season, Oettinger posted a .909 save percentage across 55 starts, tied for ninth among NHL goaltenders with at least 35 games played. While those numbers were solid, they came after an uneven stretch where fatigue appeared to play a role. As former Stars goalie Anton Khudobin pointed out in a recent interview, Oettinger, by contrast, has managed a .912 career save percentage across 251 games, showing he belongs among the league's better starters.

DeSmith was brought in to give Dallas a reliable backup option, but his role has been inconsistent. As NHL.com's Stars coverage noted, the Stars need him to take pressure off Oettinger if they want their No. 1 to be fresh come May. Gulutzan faces the challenge of trusting DeSmith enough to reduce Oettinger's workload without sacrificing wins in a tight Central Division race.

Personally, I think this season will hinge on how Dallas handles the balance. Oettinger is the kind of goalie who can steal a series, but only if he isn't worn down by April.