The Dallas Stars entered the offseason facing difficult roster decisions after another playoff exit cut short a season built around Stanley Cup expectations.
With several expensive veteran contracts already on the books and Mikko Rantanen now tied to a major long-term deal, Dallas must now address Jason Robertson’s future. His upcoming contract negotiation has become one of the organization’s biggest priorities heading into the summer.
As discussions begin to intensify, league insiders believe the Stars may soon have little choice but to hand Robertson a blockbuster payday.
Jason Robertson’s Contract Demands Put Dallas Stars Under Salary Cap Pressure
Robertson has positioned himself for one of the biggest raises of the NHL offseason after completing a dominant 45-goal, 96-point campaign for the Dallas Stars. The 26-year-old forward’s 4-year, $31 million contract expires this summer and he will enter restricted free agency with strong negotiating leverage as Dallas attempts to balance a tightening salary cap structure.
The Stars currently hold roughly $11.1 million in workable cap space while already carrying 19 signed players for next season. Robertson’s projected asking price, however, is expected to land near the $12 million annual range, especially after Dallas acquired Mikko Rantanen and his $12 million cap hit in 2025.
NHL insider Elliotte Friedman recently explained that the organization anticipated this exact outcome after Robertson’s strong season. Friedman said, “Jason Robertson took care of business this year; the Stars told him don’t worry about the contract, let’s see how the year goes; they’re gonna have no choice but to pay him.”
The growing financial pressure has also fueled outside speculation regarding Dallas potentially listening to trade calls, although management has publicly pushed back against those rumors.
General manager Jim Nill recently confirmed that re-signing Robertson remains the organization’s top priority. Speaking with NHL reporter Lia Assimakopoulos, Nill said, “That’s our focus: to get him signed. We drafted him and developed him. We think he will be a Dallas Star for the rest of his career.”
Even with that public stance, negotiations do not appear simple. NHL insider Jeff Marek reported on DFO Rundown that Dallas already has a contract framework that Robertson’s camp does not view favorably. Marek explained, “I do think that there’s a contract that has been out there for Jason Robertson, but he doesn’t want it, and that’s the Thomas Harley deal.”
ALSO READ: Blockbuster Brady Tkachuk Trade to Dallas Stars Far From Impossible
The Stars may now need to clear veteran salaries to avoid becoming too top-heavy financially. Contracts belonging to Esa Lindell and Ilya Lyubushkin have already surfaced as possible trade candidates, while Tyler Seguin remains difficult to move because of his no-movement clause and $9.85 million cap hit.
Dallas must also submit Robertson’s $9.3 million qualifying offer by June 29 to maintain his rights and preserve the ability to match any outside offer sheet. Until a new deal is finalized, the Stars’ offseason plans will continue to revolve around finding a way to pay one of the NHL’s premier scoring wingers without weakening the rest of the roster.
