How the Dallas Stars stole the 2017 draft and left the Oilers behind

The 2017 NHL Entry Draft will always be remembered in Dallas as the moment that set the foundation for today's Stanley Cup contender. With two picks outside of the lottery, the Stars managed to secure not one but two franchise cornerstones - a goalie capable of stealing games and a winger who has already become one of the league's most feared scorers.

At 26th overall, Dallas selected Jake Oettinger, a calm and commanding netminder who has since turned into one of the NHL's premier goaltenders. Just 13 picks later, Jason Robertson was taken in the second round, a decision that gave the Stars their offensive engine. Together, they represent the perfect mix of stability and star power that continues to drive Dallas forward.

Oettinger and Robertson turned the 2017 draft into a Dallas Stars masterpiece

The irony is that the Edmonton Oilers - a franchise still searching for consistency in net - had a chance to go a different direction. Instead, they picked Kailer Yamamoto, a winger who never lived up to expectations in Edmonton and has since bounced around the league.

As NHL.com pointed out, Oettinger's poise in high-pressure situations has made him the kind of goaltender teams build around. While Edmonton has cycled through names like Mikko Koskinen, Jack Campbell, and Stuart Skinner, Dallas has enjoyed stability in the crease.

Robertson, meanwhile, has blossomed into a 40-goal scorer, leading the Stars' attack with his hockey IQ and consistency. One analyst summed it up perfectly:

"Dallas didn't just draft a good player, they drafted one of the best wingers in the NHL."

It's fair to ask the "what if." If the Oilers had chosen Oettinger, would Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl already have a Stanley Cup? Maybe. But in Dallas, the answer doesn't really matter.

As one Stars fan joked online,

"Thanks Edmonton, for letting us grab both a franchise goalie and a 40-goal winger."

Personally, I think this draft is the best example of Jim Nill's patient, calculated approach paying off - a reminder that winning teams are built through bold decisions, not just lottery luck.