Jason Robertson To File For Arbitration

This is, of course, an outcome the Stars are likely to want to avoid. While GM Jim Nill has said repeatedly that his organization’s No. 1 priority is getting Robertson signed to a contract extension, an actual agreement on a new deal has proved elusive.

After the American winger scored 45 goals and 96 points (his third time crossing the 40-goal mark), Robertson and his representatives (led by Andy Scott of Octagon Hockey) have a strong argument to receive at least the $12MM AAV pledged to teammate Mikko Rantanen on his current contract.

After Leo Carlsson of the Anaheim Ducks signed a deal carrying an $18MM AAV in the form of an offer sheet with the Philadelphia Flyers, Robertson’s case to earn $12MM or above has only strengthened. Whether the Stars are willing to go beyond that figure is unclear at this time, though one presumes if the team was willing to go to such great lengths to re-sign Robertson, a deal would have already been made.

The Stars currently have just under $10MM in cap space according to PuckPedia. While that could be enough to absorb whatever salary an arbitrator might award to Robertson, it almost certainly won’t be enough to fit in a full contract extension. More moves may be required.

Dallas also has the option of trading Robertson, a possibility they have been actively exploring this offseason. The team reached an agreement with the Seattle Kraken on a sign-and-trade involving Robertson in late June, but Robertson blocked the deal by rejecting the Kraken’s $15MM AAV contract offer.

Seeing as the Stars appear unlikely to reach an agreement with Robertson on a new deal, a trade that secures his exit from Dallas a year in advance of a potential trip to unrestricted free agency could be the best move for all involved parties. From Dallas’ perspective, the outcome where Robertson exits via unrestricted free agency – with no compensation returning in Dallas’ direction – must be avoided at all costs.

The Stars have been one of the NHL’s premier competitive franchises over the last half-decade, arguably the league’s strongest overall franchise to still lack a Stanley Cup ring from that period. With how close Dallas has gotten to a Stanley Cup throughout the 2020s, it is imperative that the club secure as much value as it can possibly get out of the remaining control it has over Robertson in his final year before UFA status.