Jason Robertson to Chicago? Why a Blackhawks Trade is Unlikely

Jason Robertson will have one year remaining on his $7.8 million contract. The Dallas Stars are projected to have $4.9 million in cap space this offseason. Mikael Granlund (33), Jaimie Benn (35), and Matt Duchene (34) are three players the Stars may consider keeping but are set to become unrestricted free agents (UFA) this summer. Mason Marchment (29) is set to become a UFA next year. Marchment carries a $4.5 million cap hit. 

If the Stars are thinking about keeping their aging forwards, they won't have room for Jason Robertson, who is projected to ask for around $11.5 million. 

At a glance, it seems insane to move on from a player like Robertson when there are players that can be let go. So, if the Stars are indeed looking to move Robertson, what could they get in return?

The Stars will look for something that can help them now. Not draft capital. They could do a one-for-one swap for a player of Robertson's caliber, but if saving money is their primary motivator, Dallas will be hard pressed to find a dance partner. 

The Blackhawks have a lot of draft capital, but not any players worth sending to Dallas. Lukas Reichel would only get Kyle Davidson chuckles and nothing more. The only players of value that impact Dallas now are players Davidson would not dare move (Alex Vlasic and Frank Nazar). 

Would Dallas be okay with taking a prospect that's still developing? That would require a few, plus the Blackhawks taking on a bad contract from Dallas to help their cap breathe. 

What if Davidson offered a package that included a first-round pick, Kevin Korchinski, and another d-prospect? That still leaves Dallas with a Robertson-sized hole on the wing. 

Robertson just posted a consecutive 80-point season (35 goals, 80 points, 82 games). He would make an excellent wing for Connor Bedard. He's a sizeable winger (6'3", 201lbs) who's offensively gifted. At 25 years old, Robertson will be a restricted free agent next season. Unless he's not happy with Chicago, Robertson won't have the option of using free agency as leverage. 

Robertson would be a great fit for Chicago. However, Chicago lacks anything that would be worth Dallas's time. Kyle Davidson would need to make an incredibly bold trade that would upset many fans—one that I believe would require more than just Korchinski.