Jason Robertson Is Confirmed Available, 1 Team To take ‘Major Swing’

Dallas Stars forward Jason Robertson's name 'is out there', per two notable insiders.

With under $5 million in available cap space, the Dallas Stars need to free up some room to make some additions this offseason. They are also hoping to extend pending UFA Mikael Granlund. All of that means some contracts (i.e. bodies) need to be moved out.

This leads us to a place where the rumors of a trade of Jason Robertson, heard earlier this month, are becoming very real. Insider Elliotte Friedman noted on Sportsnet 590 The Fan that Robertson's name "is out there," and if the Stars aren't able to ship out the contracts of Matt Dumba ($3.75 million) and/or Ilya Lyubushkin ($3.25 million), then Robertson and his $7.75 million could indeed be moved.

It's hard to believe that the Stars would sacrifice Robertson just to re-sign 33-year-old Granlund, but it's also possible that with the addition of Mikko Rantanen to lead their offense, they might feel that Robertson is somehow expendable in order to get other things done.

Fellow insider Jeff Marek of Daily Faceoff discussed the potential of a Robertson trade on The Sheet:

I'm telling you, trust me, there is some 'there', there.

He went on to suggest that the Anaheim Ducks, who will be taking "major swings" this offseason, are a team to watch. "Anaheim is going to be all over guys this summer," while alluding to the availability of Robertson.

The Ducks brought in a veteran, three-time Stanley Cup champion coach in Joel Quenneville, and clearly, he wouldn't have signed there if they weren't poised to make some major additions and become a serious contender this coming season.

It's important to note that Robertson has no trade protection, and is eligible for an extension as of July 1, or he'll become a restricted free agent after next season, with arbitration rights.

The soon-to-be 26-year-old notched 35 goals this season, with 80 points, and has two recent 40-goal seasons on his resume as well.