Some thoughts on Jake Oettinger's contract extension

One day after the deal was signed, let's take another look at it.

The Dallas Stars signed Jake Oettinger to a an eight-year extension with an annual value of $8.25 million on Thursday.

Between taking some time to do some reporting, and dealing with an annoying illness myself, I hadn’t had the time to really write about it yet.

So let’s empty the notebook of some thoughts, notes, and observations after Oettinger signed the big deal.

• The deal was basically set in stone after Jeremy Swayman signed his eight-year pact with the Boston Bruins for the same amount. I’ve heard, and seen others, report that that the Stars entered the negotiation using Juuse Saros’ $7.74 million AAV as a comp and Oettinger’s camp came in asking for closer to $8.5 million, trying to account for Oettinger’s play improving this season. Both sides agreed to meet in the middle and the deal was done.

• If Oettinger’s agent had his choice this deal likely would have gotten done later in the season, after Oettinger had played his way into more leverage and potentially more money. But from my understanding Oettinger really told his agency he wanted a deal done in Dallas and wanted it done soon, and the agents job is to deliver for their client on their wishes.

• As far the contract and value goes, I think this deal will age well in years four through eight, the cap will go up and the goalie market will be more normalized for starting goalies making more than $8 million per season at the time. Whether the value is good in years 1 through 4 will be highly dependent on what Oettinger does on the ice in the next couple seasons.

• I had one person point out to me there fear with Oettinger being a massive goalie and being able to physically hold up and perform throughout the deal. Oettinger is 6-foot-6, and this person’s point was that massive bodies take more wear and tear, which is effectively why Ben Bishop’s career ended prematurely. Another hockey person I trust wondered if a goalie Oettinger’s height has ever won the Stanley Cup.
  
  So I did some research, and I believe Adin Hill currently holds the record for tallest Stanley Cup winning goalie at 6-foot-4.
  
  It should be noted Hill’s height is from the official NHL roster sheet, so is Oettinger’s. I have a hard time believing Hill isn’t the same height as Oettinger.

• This is a move the Stars were essentially planning for when they signed Casey DeSmith to a three-year deal with a $1 million AAV. The Stars set a hard internal cap on the backup goalie job so they extra wiggle room for the deal with Oettinger.