The Dallas Stars have ended their long contract negotiation saga with star winger Jason Robertson… for now.
Dallas announced Tuesday night that they have signed Robertson to a one-year, $12 million contract, effectively kicking the can down the road to next summer. Robertson is now set to become an unrestricted free agent next offseason, but will be eligible to sign another extension on January 1.
With the deal, Robertson, 26, received a substantial raise on the $7.75 million salary he has made in each of the past four seasons, and lined himself up to be one of the biggest prizes in free agency after the 2026-27 campaign.
Previous reporting indicated that Stars general manager Jim Nill had a salary red line he did not want to cross with Robertson. That red line was supposedly the $12 million salary that the team’s other star winger, Mikko Rantanen, is making through the 2032-33 campaign. The two parties seem to have compromised at that $12 million mark, but without Robertson signing a long-term deal.
Following the team’s first-round playoff exit this past spring, Nill said during his end-of-season media availability that re-signing Robertson was his top priority this summer. Robertson recorded 96 points (45g, 51a) in 82 games this past season, finishing 10th overall in league scoring.
According to PuckPedia, the Stars are now $1.36 million over the salary cap and will need to get compliant before submitting their Opening Night roster in the fall.
The Stars, looking to free up cap space, were already forced to trade emerging forward Mavrik Bourque to the Nashville Predators earlier this month in exchange for two draft picks. Bourque, a restricted free agent, then signed a six-year, $33 million extension with the Predators.
