The Dallas Stars are pursuing a long-term contract with forward Jason Robertson, despite having previously arranged a sign-and-trade agreement that would have sent him to Seattle. General manager Jim Nill stated on the first day of NHL free agency that the organization remains in contact with the player’s representatives and considers retaining Robertson a primary goal.
Nill provided no new details on the negotiations, noting that July 1 marks the start of the free agency period and that the NHL season does not begin until September. He emphasized that contract discussions are a normal part of this annual cycle.
The situation stems from an agreement reached last Saturday following the NHL draft. The Stars had finalized a deal to send Robertson to the Seattle Kraken in exchange for the seventh overall pick. While Robertson holds veto power over his own trade, he reportedly declined to agree to an eight-year, $120 million contract with Seattle. The reported terms included an annual salary of $15 million.
Robertson, who turns 27 on July 22, is currently an unsigned restricted free agent. He previously signed a four-year, $31 million deal in 2022. Dallas issued a qualifying offer to him before free agency opened, which preserves the team's right to match any offers from other clubs or receive draft compensation if the offer is not matched. A qualifying offer of at least $11,939,167 would entitle Dallas to four first-round picks if Robertson signs elsewhere.
Another potential path involves salary arbitration, which would determine his 2026-27 contract before he becomes an unrestricted free agent next summer. The deadline for filing for arbitration is this Saturday. When asked if arbitration might occur, Nill declined to speculate, stating he does not know the player’s intentions and that the team is working through the available options.
Dallas selected Robertson 39th overall in the second round of the 2017 draft. Since his NHL debut in February 2020, he has recorded 490 points, including 213 goals and 277 assists, across 456 regular-season games. He recently completed a 41-goal season. In the 2022-23 campaign, following a contract holdout, he posted 109 points. Over the past four seasons, he has played in all 328 regular-season games, accumulating 365 points. Last season, he led the team with 96 points and 45 goals.
