Oettinger shared cheat meals (Chick-fil-A or Culver’s with fries and shake), mixed views on the CBA dress code, a Drake pregame cue, and a glove-tap quirk inspired by Carey Price, highlighting his routine-driven approach and the Stars’ energy ahead of the season.

Oettinger is groomed as the starter and workload anchor, with Gulutzan's system shaping shot suppression and game flow. His health and performance will heavily influence opening-night projections and overall team ceiling.

Oettinger was benched in Game 5 after Dallas fell behind Edmonton, a moment that became a focal point of DeBoer’s firing and a topic of reflection for both players and the franchise. His reaction to the benching was measured, and his role remains central to Dallas’ playoff ambitions.

Oettinger fits the ideal fantasy archetype: heavy usage on a top team and prime age. If he continues to grow, he could challenge the top tier behind Hellebuyck and Vasilevskiy, especially with Dallas’ strong lineup and defense backing him.

Oettinger’s emergence as a rising starter in Dallas frames the league’s evolving goalie market. His trajectory intersects with Knight and Wolf as teams weigh youthful upside against immediate wins and cap realities, highlighting a broader trend toward prioritizing long-term netminding assets.