If you thought the shattering loss of John Klingberg was the price the Dallas Stars had to pay to keep a couple of talented youngsters, you might well ask what the hell is up with Jake Oettinger’s continuing status as a restricted free agent. Wasn’t the money they weren’t willing to pay Klinger intended, in part, to ensure Otter would be a Star for a very long time?
Well, as it turns out, it’s never that simple. The Athletic’s Saad Yousuf took a long look at what the team is trying to balance, and available cap space may be the least of it.