Dallas Stars Face Tough Decision on $12M Contract for Star Winger Jason Robertson

GM Jim Nill must make a difficult cap-clearing trade to keep the team's leading scorer.

Mar. 28, 2026 at 9:21pm

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The Dallas Stars are facing a salary cap crunch this offseason, with star winger Jason Robertson seeking a contract extension worth up to $12 million per year. The Stars' limited cap space means they will likely have to trade away a significant player from their middle-six forward group or top-four defensemen in order to afford Robertson's new deal.

Why it matters

Retaining Robertson is crucial for the Stars' long-term success, as he is the team's offensive catalyst. However, the cost of keeping him will force the Stars to make tough roster decisions that could significantly impact the depth and competitiveness of the team in the short term.

The details

Robertson, a 26-year-old restricted free agent, is coming off another stellar season leading the Stars in scoring. Rumors suggest he could command an eight-year extension worth $12 million per year, which would eat up a large portion of the Stars' projected $14.9 million in cap space for the 2026-27 season. To make the numbers work, the Stars will likely need to trade away a key middle-six forward or top-four defenseman, likely attaching draft capital to offload the contract.

  • Robertson is slated to become a restricted free agent with arbitration rights this summer.
  • The Stars have until July 1 to re-sign Robertson before he potentially hits the open market.

The players

Jason Robertson

A 26-year-old elite winger who is the offensive heartbeat of the Dallas Stars roster.

Jim Nill

The general manager of the Dallas Stars, who must navigate the team's salary cap constraints to re-sign Robertson.

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What they’re saying

“Nill wasn't necessarily shopping his top scorer; he was doing his due diligence as a veteran GM who knew this cap crunch was coming.”

— Geoff Hannah, NHL Analyst

What’s next

The Stars must decide whether to sign Robertson to a long-term extension at $12 million per year or explore trading him to clear cap space. If they keep Robertson, they will likely need to make a significant trade to offload salary from their middle-six forwards or top-four defensemen.

The takeaway

The Dallas Stars' ability to re-sign their star winger Jason Robertson will come at a significant cost, forcing the team to make tough roster decisions that could impact their depth and competitiveness in the short term. This highlights the difficult salary cap challenges facing NHL teams in their efforts to retain elite talent.