The hidden CBA twist that could save Jason Robertson's Dallas Stars future

The Dallas Stars face one of the biggest questions of the 2025-26 season, and it centers around Jason Robertson's future. The star winger is entering the final year of his $7.75 million deal, and while fans worry about the cap crunch, there may be a hidden advantage that shifts the entire conversation.

According to Sports Illustrated, the newly negotiated NHL Collective Bargaining Agreement could be Dallas's secret weapon in keeping Robertson long-term. The CBA ensures the salary cap will rise by nearly $10 million each of the next two years, giving contenders like Dallas breathing room they desperately need.

For a team stacked with top-end talent like Mikko Rantanen, Roope Hintz, and Wyatt Johnston, this couldn't have come at a better time. The Stars have been within striking distance of the Stanley Cup Final three straight years, and Robertson's extension is crucial if they want to finally clear that hurdle.

How the rising salary cap could reshape Dallas Stars' contract talks

The numbers are striking. The cap is expected to reach $104 million in 2026-27 and jump again to $113 million in 2027-28. For general manager Jim Nill, that means flexibility to keep Robertson without dismantling the roster.

Insider Jeff Marek recently explained on the DLLS Stars Podcast:

"In a perfect world this guy is on the Dallas Stars. The issue is we live in a salary cap universe We all know some of the holes the Dallas Stars need to fill to take the next step."

That reality has sparked plenty of rumors, but Dallas now holds more leverage than before. If Robertson is willing to sign in the range of Rantanen's contract, it's easy to imagine a deal getting done.

The Florida Panthers showed this summer how the new system changes everything, re-signing Aaron Ekblad, Brad Marchand, and Sam Bennett in one offseason. Dallas could follow a similar model by locking in their own stars and avoiding trade speculation.

I think the most important thing is Robertson staying at the heart of the core. His scoring presence and chemistry with Hintz are irreplaceable, and the rising cap means the Stars no longer have to fear impossible math.

The "secret weapon" may not be a player, but a financial system that arrived just in time to keep Dallas a contender.