Oettinger arrives at Stars camp ready to laugh off last season’s ending and chase a title with a contract that starts this season. Dallas embeds him as the goalie cornerstone while the front office navigates a coach’s firing and a push to finally clear Edmonton from the West’s top tier. The stage is set for Robertson, Heiskanen, and a well-compensated Oettinger to carry fantasy value all year.

Meanwhile, DeBoer’s pull of Oettinger in Game 5 and the subsequent firing backdrop a renewed focus on accountability. Veteran moves anchor a young core that includes Robertson and Heiskanen, with Rantanen’s praise underscoring the league-wide respect for Oettinger’s elite technique. The Stars’ playoff trajectory remains the story within the story.

Jake Oettinger enters camp with the belief that last season’s Game 5 pull against Edmonton will be a turning point, not a setback, and that a future Stars title will make the moment laughable in hindsight. He signed a long-term, $66 million extension and remains the backbone in net as Dallas pursues a deep playoff run.

Dallas moved on from Pete DeBoer eight days after that game, with GM Jim Nill stressing that player input and broader fallout mattered beyond a single decision. Oettinger’s strong regular-season numbers and playoff pedigree, plus Mikko Rantanen’s praise, diamond the aura around him as a top-tier NHL goalie for fantasy managers.

Dallas Stars training camp opens with a renewed sense of purpose under Glen Gulutzan, who returns with a new staff, a largely intact core, and a roster fully healthy. After three straight Western Conference finals runs, the mood is: seize the opportunity of a fresh start and prove the reset can finally push Dallas over the hump. Jim Nill emphasizes a new voice, while Gulutzan stresses clear expectations as camp begins.

With Robertson recovering last season and the system potentially evolving under two new assistants, the Stars look to convert optimism into sustained performance. The overarching storyline is a fresh start that leverages health, depth, and strategic tweaks to finally advance in a league that never rewards already-close teams with easy paths.

Pete DeBoer’s three-year Dallas Stars tenure ends after three straight Western Conference finals appearances with no Cup. GM Jim Nill says the results spoke for themselves, while DeBoer notes the math didn’t add up. He pivots to Team Canada for the 2026 Olympics as the next coaching chapter beckons.

Armstrong and Cooper offered support, emphasizing that Olympic duties won’t derail his NHL chances, and DeBoer remains confident he’ll land another head-coaching job soon as the league’s coaching carousel heats up.