Ask Dubey: Thoughts on Jake Oettinger being pulled, prediction for the Stanley Cup Final, and more

The Edmonton Oilers are back in the Stanley Cup Final.

Before looking ahead to this year’s series with the Florida Panthers, let’s go through some questions from their Western Conference Final series against the Dallas Stars.

Thoughts on pulling a starting goalie so early in an elimination game? What does that do to team morale? Should Jake Oettinger have started the second period after being pulled?

That’s technically three questions, but let’s tackle them.

Should he have started the second period? Probably not. At that point, the change had already been made, and putting a guy back in cold from the bench isn’t ideal.

But honestly, I don’t think he should have been pulled in the first place.

There’s been a lot of talk about this. Why pull Oettinger in that scenario? Pete DeBoer is a great coach, but I don’t think this was handled well.

Right after the game, with emotions high, he goes out and throws his Vezina-candidate goalie under the bus, citing his past record against the Oilers. But that’s not just a goalie stat, it reflects team performance too.

Oettinger was a big reason they even made it this far. He was stellar in Rounds 1 and 2, and even had solid moments against Edmonton. Neither of the first two goals were his fault. One was a breakaway; the other, Corey Perry was wide open in front. You freeze-frame those goals, no one’s near the scorer.

If those are the first two shots of the game, yeah, they might go in. But you’ve got to trust your goalie to weather it.

Oettinger isn’t some rookie. He’s got playoff experience, he’s proven. He’s clearly your best option. DeSmith played fine, but he didn’t steal the game.

If Oettinger makes even one of those stops that DeSmith couldn’t? Whole different game.

Morale-wise, the postgame comments did more harm than the in-game decision. As a coach, you can make any call you want, but tossing your guy under the bus afterward? That’s damaging.

How much does height matter for an NHL goalie today?

As a modern-era goalie myself, here’s what I’ll say: Height is only an advantage if you make it one. The game is so fast now, tons of lateral movement, creative plays, and east-to-west puck movement.

If you’re big and can move like a smaller guy, then height is a bonus. It lets you play deeper in the net while still covering the top corners. But size alone won’t save you anymore. You’ve got to be athletic.

Guys like Vasilevskiy, Skinner, Blackwood — they’re big but also crazy mobile. That’s what makes height work.

Fun fact: I’m 6-foot-6, but most of my height is from the hips up. My legs are more like someone who’s 6-foot-6, which helped me move better and stay compact. You need that mix. A long torso helps you cover the net, and shorter legs help you move quickly.

So yes, height helps, but only if you can move.

There are so many non-English-speaking players. Did you ever need to get creative to communicate?

Good question. Hockey’s super global, with Swedes, Finns, Russians, Czechs, French Canadians, and others. Some guys speak great English, others struggle more.

On the ice, it’s usually not too tough. Simple commands, tone, and body language go a long way.

Off the ice is different. It’s easy for non-English speakers to feel isolated, especially younger players. So I always tried to go out of my way, sit with them, talk, and make them feel comfortable.

I had Russian teammates I didn’t click with right away. But you have to remember, they grew up differently. Getting to know them changes everything, and you play better together because of it.

Final segment: Prediction time

Stanley Cup Final rematch: Oilers vs. Panthers. I’m picking Oilers in 7.

Could they win it in less? Maybe. But these are two powerhouse teams, and I think it’s destined to go the distance.

Two big factors for Edmonton: They’ve been here before. They know what it takes now. If it goes to Game 7, home ice at Rogers Place is going to be electric. That’s a serious advantage.

Oilers in 7. Let’s go.

Watch the full episode of Ask Dubey on YouTube