Fri Oct 18 10:10:00 UTC 2024: ## Dallas Stars Lock Up Franchise Goaltender Jake Oettinger with Eight-Year, $66 Million Extension

**DALLAS, TX** – The Dallas Stars have secured the future of their franchise by signing star goaltender Jake Oettinger to an eight-year, $66 million contract extension. The deal, announced Thursday, carries an $8.25 million cap hit through the 2032-33 season and includes $23 million in signing bonuses.

Oettinger, 25, has been a cornerstone of the Stars’ success in recent years, helping them reach the playoffs for three consecutive seasons and leading them to the Western Conference finals in each of the past two. He boasts an impressive career record of 116-48-23 in 196 games, ranking third in goals-against average (2.49), sixth in save percentage (.914), and sixth in wins (116) among goalies with at least 150 games played.

“Real obvious he’s a core piece here and has been for a while,” said Stars coach Peter DeBoer. “A great deal: a great deal for him, well-earned, and a great deal for the team. I think it’s going to look really good for both parties going forward.”

The eight-year term is particularly notable, as it allows the Stars to lock up Oettinger in his prime and potentially through his peak years. “Usually goalies are really not starting to knock on the door till they’re 26, 27, 28,” said Stars general manager Jim Nill. “He’s 25. He’s going to be 33 and really just might be hitting his peak at the end of this. That’s where it’s a unique situation for us.”

Oettinger’s signing follows a recent trend of significant contract extensions for top NHL goalies. Boston’s Jeremy Swayman signed an eight-year, $66 million deal, Ottawa’s Linus Ullmark inked a four-year, $33 million contract, and Seattle’s Joey Daccord secured a five-year, $25 million extension.

“That kind of brought it all together,” said Nill, referring to the deals for Swayman and Ullmark. “It was no secret there were guys out there that had to get signed. So, we just said, ‘Let’s see where the market’s at, and once that market’s settled, then let’s talk.’ And that’s pretty well what we did.”

The Stars’ commitment to Oettinger solidifies their goaltending situation for the foreseeable future and signals their ambition to remain competitive in the Western Conference for years to come.

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