Jason Robertson is one of the top scorers in the NHL this season, but his name is still popping up in trade rumors.
The latest speculation comes from Sportsnet’s Nick Kypreos, who floated Robertson’s name as a potential mover ahead of March 6’s trade deadline in his recent “Real Kyper’s NHL Buzz” column. Robertson, who has 52 points (25g, 27a) in 44 games this season for the Dallas Stars, is set to become a restricted free agent in July.
One idea floating around the league is a bigger swing involving Dallas — specifically Jason Robertson. Contract talks there haven’t been smooth, where Robertson is believed to be looking for north of $12 million a year, more than what Mikko Rantanen got. That’s not an easy number for the Stars. Toronto could pay it, but the question is the cost of acquisition. Cowan, Ben Danford, plus more — likely an off-season conversation rather than a deadline one — but it’s the kind of move that would actually change the Leafs’ makeup. Whether they have the stomach for it is another matter.
Past reporting, notably from leading hockey insider Elliotte Friedman, has indicated that Stars general manager Jim Nill, winner of the last three General Manager of the Year Awards, has a salary red line he does not want to cross. Previously, that red line was rumored to be the $12 million salary that the team’s other star winger, Mikko Rantanen, is making through the 2032-33 campaign.
According to PuckPedia, the Stars currently have $3.27 million in cap space, though that comes with veteran forward Tyler Seguin’s $9.85 million cap hit on long-term injured reserve.
The NHL salary cap is expected to increase by another $8.5 million for the 2026-27 campaign, but the Stars already have very expensive contract committments to seven players other than Robertston through that season: Rantanen ($12M), Thomas Harley ($10.587M), Seguin ($9.85M), Roope Hintz ($8.45M), Miro Heiskanen ($8.45M), Wyatt Johnston ($8.4M), and Jake Oettinger ($8.25M).
Robertson should have a bevy of suitors if the Stars do opt for the trade route during the season or in the offseason. Given that Dallas’s primary issue with Robertson seems to be salary-related, any potential return could likely lean more toward prospects and draft picks than current NHL players, whose contracts Dallas would need to absorb.
Theoretically, the Washington Capitals could be among the teams in the running for Robertson, though they’ve never been explicitly reported as interested. Friedman has previously stated that the Capitals made their desire to “grab the best offensive player they can” very clear late last month.
According to PuckPedia, the Capitals currently have $5.48 million in cap space. With more space accruing over time, they’re set to have $12.78 million in space at the deadline.
Other players that Kypreos theorizes could become available and fit the bill for the Capitals include Artemi Panarin of the New York Rangers, Jonathan Marchessault of the Nashville Predators, Nazem Kadri of the Calgary Flames, and Jordan Kyrou of the St. Louis Blues.
