The roller-coaster offseason for Ottawa Senators fans has taken another dramatic twist. Just as excitement began building around the idea of turning the massive return from the Brady Tkachuk-to-Florida trade into a blockbuster pursuit of Dallas Stars star Jason Robertson, a prominent NHL insider has poured cold water on the possibility.
Senators Face Major Jason Robertson Obstacle
On paper, Ottawa appears to have everything needed to make a serious run at Robertson. General manager Steve Staios has more than $25 million in cap space available and a stockpile of valuable draft picks that could be used in a trade or even to support an aggressive offer-sheet strategy.
The problem, however, may have little to do with assets or salary cap flexibility. Instead, it comes down to whether Robertson would be willing to commit to Ottawa.
Although Robertson is currently a restricted free agent and does not possess any trade protection, he is only one season away from becoming eligible for unrestricted free agency. That reality significantly changes the risk involved for any team considering a move.
NHL insider Chris Johnston recently addressed the speculation and explained why Ottawa may not be an attractive long-term destination for the Stars winger.
“Jason Robertson is one year himself from potential unrestricted free agency, and it’s my understanding he would have no interest in signing a long-term deal in a place like Ottawa. So, I just don’t see how that extension makes sense or how that conversation makes sense,” Johnston said.
Johnston went on to note that Ottawa could technically acquire Robertson’s rights and keep him under contract for another season through the RFA process, including arbitration if necessary. But doing so would essentially put the Senators on a path toward losing him for nothing when he reaches unrestricted free agency.
Robertson, who grew up in California, is not expected to show much interest in committing long-term to a market like Ottawa. He is also unlikely to be eager to sign an extension in a Canadian market that attracts heavy media attention and higher taxes than some U.S. destinations.
That creates a dangerous scenario for the Senators. If Staios were to flip premium assets, potentially to land Robertson without an extension already in place, Ottawa could end up sacrificing significant long-term value for what amounts to a one-year rental.
The Ottawa Citizen’s Bruce Garrioch echoed similar skepticism. “Would surprise me if Jason Robertson landed in Ottawa either through trade or offer sheet, but never say never.”
The Senators certainly have the financial flexibility and trade assets necessary to pursue a deal. But as Johnston’s comments make clear, the biggest challenge isn’t meeting Dallas’ asking price, it’s convincing Robertson that Ottawa is where he wants to spend the prime years of his NHL career.
