The aftermath of Dallas Stars head coach Peter DeBoer`s debated decision to bench starting goaltender Jake Oettinger during Game 5 of the Western Conference Final continues to resonate.
DeBoer pulled Oettinger early after the goalie allowed two quick goals and seemingly placed blame on the netminder following the team`s 6-3 loss that eliminated them from the Stanley Cup Playoffs last Thursday.
On a recent episode of 32 Thoughts: The Podcast, Kyle Bukauskas and Elliotte Friedman discussed whether it`s possible for the team and the player to move past the incident.
One point Friedman expressed certainty about is that Oettinger will not be leaving Dallas.
“I don’t think the Dallas Stars are trading Jake Oettinger,” Friedman stated. “Even if Oettinger walked in there and said, `I want to be traded,` I think the Dallas Stars would say, `Look, we just signed you to an eight-year extension. We have no interest in doing that, and we’ll figure out a way to sort this out.`”
There is indeed a precedent for navigating such internal friction within the Dallas organization. Friedman recalled an incident in 2018 when then-CEO Jim Lites publicly criticized the performance of key forwards Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin. Both players, despite being very upset at the time, remained with the club and the situation was resolved. Benn recently indicated his desire to stay with the team as he approaches free agency.
“[Lites] really criticized them publicly, heavily, and both players were really upset, but they sorted it out,” Friedman explained. “I think that’s the Stars’ goal here too is, they know that Oettinger was upset and they know that he was embarrassed, but just like they did with Benn and Seguin, they will work, I believe, to sort this out.”
He added that while there were undoubtedly “hard feelings” that need to be addressed, the team`s ability to resolve the past issue with Benn and Seguin under GM Jim Nill suggests they can handle the current situation with Oettinger. Nill, described as calm, competitive, and driven to win, successfully managed the previous challenge.
Friedman also doesn`t foresee DeBoer being fired, but indicated the Stars would “see how next year goes” before potentially offering him a contract extension.
Boston`s Coaching Search Narrows
As the Boston Bruins continue their search for a new head coach, interim head coach Joe Sacco is no longer considered a candidate.
Friedman reported that Sacco was informed he would not be staying, as the team has been interviewing other potential candidates.
Reports suggest Marco Sturm, head coach of the AHL`s Ontario Reign, had a positive interview last week. Other candidates reportedly interviewed include Washington Capitals assistant Mitch Love, former Oilers head coach Jay Woodcroft, and Bruins assistant Jay Leach.
Friedman mentioned Misha Donskov, an assistant coach with the Dallas Stars, as a new potential candidate now that his team`s season is over and he is free to speak with other clubs.
“If they want to talk to him in person, he’s available now, but we’ll see,” Friedman said, reiterating that Sacco would not be returning as head coach after a busy week of interviews in Boston.
Speculating on Sacco`s next move, Friedman wondered if he might join the Toronto Maple Leafs` coaching staff following the departure of associate coach Lane Lambert.
Sacco, a veteran of 13 NHL seasons, was a Maple Leafs draft pick in 1987 and played briefly alongside current head coach Craig Berube during his time in Toronto.
Pittsburgh`s Coaching Timeline Unclear
Pittsburgh Penguins executive Kyle Dubas is also searching for a new head coach, but Friedman expressed some doubt about whether Mitch Love is still the leading candidate for the job.
“I’ve always been told to trust my instincts when I say something, stick with it until I have reason to believe it’s not going to be the case. Don’t doubt yourself,” Friedman commented. “I just heard that it’s not assured Love is going to be the guy in Pittsburgh.”
According to Friedman, former Ottawa Senators head coach D.J. Smith, Jay Woodcroft, and New York Rangers assistant coach Dan Muse are among those who have interviewed, with potentially other candidates also in contention.
“These could be famous last words, I don’t know how much of a hurry Dubas is in. … Things change pretty quickly,” Friedman added, stating that he is “not as sure Love is the leader as I was earlier in this process.”
CHL to NCAA Transfers on the Rise
With the Memorial Cup recently concluded, activity is expected to increase regarding players potentially transferring from the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) to NCAA programs.
Some transfers have already been reported, including Victoria Royals players Cole Reschny and Keaton Verhoeff verbally committing to North Dakota, and Erie Otters forward Malcolm Spence heading to Michigan.
Rumours also involve Medicine Hat Tigers star Gavin McKenna, a potential high pick in 2026, and his teammate Cayden Lindstrom, who has been linked to Michigan State.
“If you’re an NCAA hockey fan, with the transfer portal, you’ve seen the chaos for a few years now,” Friedman remarked, comparing the new CHL-NCAA trend to the player movement seen within the NCAA. “It’s bananas the player movement and now, for the first time, we’re really seeing it with the CHL and the NCAA. Nobody really knows where we’re going here yet. They have an idea, we’re starting to see more players but nobody really knows long-term what this is all going to mean.”
Friedman anticipates that these decisions will be handled on a case-by-case basis for each player and team, rather than following a uniform approach.
“Not every NCAA school is the same. Some of these NCAA schools are powerhouses, some others are smaller budgets,” he explained, drawing a parallel to the varying resources among CHL teams. “It’s just like the CHL. Who won the Memorial Cup this year? London, the biggest of the big. Well, not everybody is a London. There are smaller markets and smaller teams that won’t be able to do some of the things that London can do.
“It’s a case-by-case and a team-by-team basis. Someone’s going to walk into North Dakota or Michigan and be blown away. Others are going to walk into other schools and they’re going to say it’s no different than what I’ve got here.”
Friedman noted that players retain the option to return to the CHL until January 10th if their NCAA experience isn`t working out, and wondered if any players might exercise this option.
One outcome Friedman is certain about is that this trend will force CHL teams to operate more effectively.
“What a CHL team has got to be asking now is: Are we doing everything in our power, whether we are a big team or a small team in terms of budgets, are we doing everything in our power to make players want to stay with us?” Friedman posed. “And the answer to that question better be yes. It should force you to be better.”
