Stars, Senators Fans Skeptical of Rumored Robertson-Tkachuk Trade

Former NHL player Keith Yandle floated the idea on a podcast, but the trade seems unlikely to materialize.

Mar. 3, 2026 at 11:25pm

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In a recent episode of the Spittin' Chiclets podcast, former NHL player Keith Yandle suggested the possibility of a trade between the Dallas Stars and Ottawa Senators involving star forwards Jason Robertson and Brady Tkachuk. However, the rumor has been met with skepticism from fans and analysts, who point out that Yandle repeatedly referred to Robertson as "Robinson" and that there has been no other credible reporting on such a high-profile trade. While the deal could make some sense on paper, most believe the teams have other priorities ahead of the NHL trade deadline on Friday.

Why it matters

A trade of this magnitude between the Stars and Senators would be a blockbuster move that would significantly impact both teams' rosters and playoff hopes. Robertson and Tkachuk are two of the league's most talented young forwards, so a swap would be a major shakeup in the NHL landscape.

The details

In the Spittin' Chiclets podcast, Yandle floated the idea of the Stars trading Robertson for Tkachuk. However, Yandle repeatedly referred to Robertson as "Robinson," which has drawn criticism from fans who feel it shows a lack of respect for the player. Additionally, there has been no other reporting from credible sources to corroborate the rumor, leading many to believe it is unlikely to actually happen.

  • The NHL trade deadline is on Friday, March 3, 2026.

The players

Jason Robertson

A star forward for the Dallas Stars who has emerged as one of the NHL's elite young players in recent seasons.

Brady Tkachuk

A physical, scoring forward for the Ottawa Senators who is also considered one of the league's top young talents.

Keith Yandle

A former NHL player who currently hosts the Spittin' Chiclets podcast, where he floated the trade idea.

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What they’re saying

“Saw something about a Jason Robertson for Brady Tkachuk trade at the trade deadline. All I will say is, how can you trust a source if they keep calling him "Robinson"? Robertson has been an elite forward in this league for a bit now. It's just disrespectful.”

— Taylor Baird

“Having said that, I make this deal all day long if I'm the Stars.”

— Mark Spector, Sportsnet Analyst

What’s next

The NHL trade deadline is on Friday, March 3, 2026, so any potential deal between the Stars and Senators would need to be completed by then.

The takeaway

While a trade involving Robertson and Tkachuk could make sense on paper, the lack of credible reporting and Yandle's repeated mispronunciation of Robertson's name have led many to doubt the legitimacy of the rumor. Fans and analysts will be closely monitoring the trade deadline to see if any major deals involving these two young stars come to fruition.