Stars sign Oettinger to 8-year, $66M extension

The Dallas Stars have signed franchise goaltender Jake Oettinger to an eight-year, $66 million contract extension, it was announced Thursday.

The deal carries an $8.25 million cap hit through the 2032-33 season. Oettinger also receives $23 million in signing bonuses.

Oettinger, who enters his fifth NHL season with a 116-48-23 record in 196 career games, is in the last year of a deal that has an average annual value of $4 million and was due to become a restricted free agent this summer.

Just 25, Oettinger ranks third in goals-against average (2.49), sixth in save percentage (.914) and sixth in wins (116) over that span for goalies with at least 150 games played.

He has helped the Stars make the playoffs in three straight seasons and backstopped them to the Western Conference final the past two seasons. His numbers in the playoffs are strikingly consistent: .915 save percentage and a 2.46 goals-against average in 82 postseason games.

Oettinger is 3-0-0 so far this season for Dallas.

“Jake has established himself as one of the elite goaltenders in the NHL,” general manager Jim Nill said in a statement. “His unique blend of poise, size, athleticism, and mental toughness has helped our team reach new heights since he’s taken over the net. He is an integral part of our core that will allow us to contend for the Stanley Cup this season, but also for many years to come.”

Oettinger is the fourth NHL goalie to sign a significant contract extension in the last month. It started when the Boston Bruins and Jeremy Swayman ended their stalemate with an eight-year, $66 million deal — a template contract for Oettinger.

Ottawa goalie Linus Ullmark signed a four-year, $33 million deal that carries the same cap hit as Oettinger and Swayman ($8.25 million). Seattle’s Joey Daccord also signed a contract extension worth $25 million over five years.

Still waiting for his next contract is New York Rangers goalie Igor Shesterkin, who could become the league’s highest-paid netminder.

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