Dallas Stars' Jason Robertson Could Become Trade Candidate; 2 Suitors Named

The Dallas Stars seem to have hit a wall. For the second consecutive year, they've come up short in the Conference Finals, once again bowing out to the Edmonton Oilers. As Daily Faceoff insider Jeff Marek writes in The Sheet, Dallas has "a vibe around the team that screams, 'not good enough.'"

With only $5 million in projected cap space, something will need to be done to free up some space to make moves. Marek suggests that the team's top goal-scorer Jason Robertson could become a trade candidate.

Could the Stars move someone like Jason Robertson, who has one more year on his deal at an incredible $7.75 million value, to try to recoup Draft capital and free up cap space to once again go big-game hunting in the summer?

Robertson notched 35 goals this season, with 80 points, and has two recent 40-goal seasons on his resume as well. He's eligible for an extension as of July 1, but has no trade protection, and he will be in for a huge raise, whether that be this summer on an extension, or as a restricted free agent with arbitration rights after the coming season.

As Marek alluded to, the Stars only have one pick in the first four rounds of the NHL Draft, both this year and next year. And no first-rounders. A trade of Robertson would recoup some serious draft assets.

2 teams make sense as fits for a Jason Robertson trade

Marek goes on to suggest two suitors that make sense to pursue a Robertson trade:

I’d watch the Ottawa Senators and Anaheim Ducks as possible destinations.

The Ducks have finished 30th in the NHL in goals scored for each of the last two seasons. A sniper like Robertson would be an ideal trade target for them. They have all of the draft picks over the next couple of years, plus a couple of extras.

The Senators, too, are looking for some firepower. A top-six winger is one of their offseason priorities, and from that standpoint, it doesn't get much better than Robertson. Their draft cupboard, however, isn't so full at the moment, and they might have to obtain more picks to make this work.

This will be worth keeping an eye on, as whether or not the Stars try to sign the soon-to-be 26-year-old to an extension after July 1st will be a big clue as to their plans.