The situation with Jason Robertson is rapidly becoming the most fascinating storyline of the 2026 offseason. Coming off a monster 96-point season, the 26-year-old restricted free agent is staring down a looming arbitration hearing scheduled for this Saturday, July 25.
Because the Dallas Stars only have about $10.6 million in projected cap space, and Robertson is reportedly seeking a deal north of $12 million, general manager Jim Nill is actively exploring his options before the hearing locks in a one-year salary.
That has only fueled trade speculation surrounding Robertson, with the Pittsburgh Penguins emerging as one of the teams most heavily linked to the restricted free agent.
Penguins Face Major Jason Robertson Trade Hurdle
According to Josh Yohe of The Athletic, the Penguins still “absolutely want” to acquire Robertson.
But when discussing what a potential trade package could look like, the price quickly became difficult to ignore. A proposed package included Rickard Rakell, a first-round pick, Harrison Brunicke, and Rutger McGroarty.
Yohe acknowledged that a package of that magnitude could be enough to land Robertson, but he also pointed out the pressure point for Pittsburgh. “The Penguins would be very unhappy to give up Brunicke, as I know they have high hopes for him and he’s their only top-tier prospect on the blue line,” Yohe said.
That could be the biggest sticking point in any potential deal.
The 20-year-old defenseman is arguably Pittsburgh’s top blue-line prospect. After years of trading away young talent to remain competitive, Brunicke represents the future of the Penguins’ defense. Moving him would be a major sacrifice.
The same applies to McGroarty.
Pittsburgh traded highly touted prospect Brayden Yager to the Winnipeg Jets to acquire McGroarty in August 2024. Moving both young players, along with Rakell and a first-round pick, would strip away a significant portion of the Penguins’ current depth and future assets.
For general manager Kyle Dubas, the decision comes down to how aggressively he wants to extend Pittsburgh’s competitive window.
Why Robertson Would Be a Perfect Fit
Despite the high price, Robertson would be an ideal fit in Pittsburgh. The 26-year-old would give Sidney Crosby the elite scoring winger the Penguins have been missing.
Coming off a 96-point season and established as a 40-goal scorer, Robertson could make Pittsburgh’s top line one of the NHL’s most dangerous and help maximize the final years of the Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang era.
At 26 years old, Robertson could help them win immediately while potentially becoming one of the franchise’s key players after the Crosby era ends.
The Penguins also recently signed his younger brother, Nick Robertson, to a two-year, $6.5 million contract. Reuniting the brothers could make Pittsburgh an even more appealing destination.
However, Robertson reportedly wants to remain in Dallas, and the Stars could be forced to trade him rather than risk losing him to unrestricted free agency in 2027.
The Penguins clearly have interest, but the price could be steep. If Harrison Brunicke is included, Pittsburgh would be giving up one of its most important pieces of the future to land Robertson.
