Dallas Stars Trade Up In Draft, Take Goaltender Jake Oettinger

The Dallas Stars had to make a deal to move up three spots in the Entry Draft. But it paid off as they selected goaltender Jake Oettinger at 26th overall.

It was right around when the Montreal Canadiens were on the clock with the 25th pick when murmurs started to pick up that the Dallas Stars and Chicago Blackhawks were up to something.

Just moments later, Gary Bettman announced on the stage that the Blackhawks had traded the 26th overall pick to the Stars in exchange for the 29th overall pick and the 70th overall pick (Stars’ third-round selection).

And a few short ticks of the clock following that, Dallas claimed 18-year-old Boston University goaltender Jake Oettinger. This is a steal of a pick.

Sure, the Stars had to give up their only third-round pick for it, but that’s perfectly alright considering the payoff. Many had speculated that the St. Louis Blues and Ottawa Senators (who picked 27th and 28th) would both take a hard look at Oettinger, so Dallas made sure to cover their bases.

Dallas Stars

The reason that Oettinger was so popular is pretty simple: he’s largely considered to be the best goaltender in the draft. At 6’4, 218 lbs. he has plenty of size to go around, and he knows how to use it.

He’s highly athletic and knows the proper techniques. He’s a mobile goaltender that knows how to handle the puck both inside and outside the crease, has an incredibly deceiving glove hand, and possesses great awareness, poise, and mental sharpness. In other words, his goaltending IQ is extremely high for an 18-year-old. His skillset is nothing short of impressive.

In a mailbag I put up last week, I noted that the Stars would be smart to pick up Oettinger with their 29th pick. The fact that Nill saw the teams ahead of him looking at the goalie as well and deciding to make a move was ingenious.

I loved watching Jake Oettinger‘s play with Boston University this past season (.927 SV%, 2.11 GAA). He tracks the puck well and is a mobile goaltender that can handle the puck. If the Stars are going to take the opportunity to make this draft the one where they jumpstart their goaltender development, I like Oettinger as the pick.

In Tom Dorsa’s draft profile on Oettinger, he talked in-depth about the goalie’s positioning and goalie smarts:

Oettinger reads offensive plays and acts accordingly remarkably well. He gets to his feet quickly and doesn’t flail around too much in the crease, giving him time to use the correct piece of equipment to stop the shooting attempt (whether that’s pads, blocker, glove, or chest).

His efficiency means he doesn’t necessarily have to be overly acrobatic or reactive to anything. His position, which is the biggest reason as to why he’s having the success he has, is something 18-year-old goalies normally learn later on in their careers; Oettinger’s smarts give him an edge.