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The Dallas Stars nearly traded away their leading scorer, Jason Robertson, this summer. The team had a sign-and-trade deal in place to send Robertson to the Seattle Kraken for a top draft pick, but the deal collapsed when he refused to sign a long-term contract extension with the franchise.
Dallas ultimately pivoted and re-signed him to a one-year, $12 million bridge deal instead of the multi-year commitment fans wanted. But it can be a problem for them heading into the new season.
Jason Robertson's one-year deal sets up a bigger problem
This $12 million figure matches the exact annual salary of Mikko Rantanen, who signed an eight-year contract extension following his trade from the Carolina Hurricanes. By matching their salaries, the front office has set these two superstars on a financial collision course next offseason.
Robertson, who led the Stars with 96 points last season, will become an unrestricted free agent next summer. His camp is expected to demand over $15 million per year. Trying to fit two maximum-value winger contracts onto the same roster will force Dallas into a tight corner where they might have to choose between keeping Robertson or Rantanen long-term.
Robertson downplayed the offseason trade drama that he ultimately blocked, saying, "What happened from then to now doesn't matter anymore. I just want to focus on having a great summer, coming into camp ready to go, and trying to win a Cup."
In the process, Locked On Stars podcast host Joey Erickson questioned whether the front office has already chosen a different cornerstone over Robertson.
"I'm curious if Mikko Rantanen is the guy they want to build around," Erickson said, referring to the fact that the team never gave Robertson a long-term extension when they had the chance.
Have the Dallas Stars planned a future that is built around Mikko Rantanen? If you can only keep one: are you taking Robertson or Rantanen? pic.twitter.com/hF31RDYyAu
— 105.3 The FAN (@1053thefan) July 24, 2026He claimed, “Maybe they were picking sides to some degree and saying this is going to be kind of our guy now, and not Robo.”
General Manager Jim Nill reportedly set a strict internal salary cap for Robertson matching Rantanen's $12 million salary, and the two sides ultimately agreed on that number. Keeping both elite scorers long-term will test the front office. Robertson's next contract request will likely exceed $15 million, putting immense pressure on a budget that already features Thomas Harley's $10.587 million cap hit.
Fortunately, Tyler Seguin's $9.85 million contract comes off the books in 2027, and the league’s total salary cap is projected to jump to $113.5 million by the 2027-28 season. While this extra breathing room buys Dallas some time, the front office still hasn't figured out if it is enough to keep both stars long-term.
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