Jason Robertson of the
Dallas Stars is atop the NHL's goal-scoring charts (non-McDavid/MacKinnon Division), with 27 through 48 games. He's having a sensational season, and it's hard to believe that the Stars would move on from him in a win-now year.
At the same time, however, if they don't think they can fit him into their salary cap structure with the type of extension he's looking for, a trade could be in the offing.
As Nick Kypreos wrote for Sportsnet this week, "If Robertson holds strong on his asking price and wants more on a new contract with Dallas than Mikko Rantanen’s $12 million, then the Stars may eventually explore trading their top goal scorer, but they'd need a big scoring replacement. Already missing Tyler Seguin, a Robertson trade would require a significant player in return."
Let's look at five teams proposed by Lyle Richardson in Bleacher Report that could be potential trade destinations for Robertson, if GM Jim Nill decides to go that route—whether at the deadline or in the summer.
- Carolina Hurricanes
- Detroit Red Wings
- Los Angeles Kings
- New York Rangers
- Toronto Maple Leafs
The Hurricanes are always ready to take a big swing at any star-studded names available at the deadline. Jake Guentzel in 2024 and Rantanen in 2025 are Exhibits 1 and 1A. Don't put it past GM Eric Tulsky to go all out for Robertson if he truly becomes available. The only question, as it is with many of these teams, is what would be the "significant player" they'd offer in return? The first-rounder and prospects that Richardson proposes are unlikely to get it done, considering Kypreos's comments.
Red Wings could pursue Jason Robertson this summer
The Red Wings' pursuit of Robertson is more likely to come in the summer. They're certainly on the hunt for another legit top-six scorer, and, per PuckPedia, they'll have a projected $43 million in cap space to put their roster together for next season. Plenty of room to meet Robertson's contractual needs.
If there's any team that fancies itself a contender that lacks goal-scoring, it's the Kings. They, too, will have plenty of cap space in the summer to sign Robertson long-term if they can swing a move to get him.
Robertson is only 26, so he certainly still fits the Rangers newly-stated 'retooling' project they're now embarking on. And if there's any team on this list that has a "significant player" to offer Dallas in return, it's the Blueshirts. If the Stars thought that they could get a more reasonable and shorter-term deal done with Artemi Panarin, for instance, could something be worked out that way? Can the Maple Leafs unite the Robertsons in Toronto?
The Leafs have Robertson's younger brother Nick already in the fold, so perhaps Jason would be interested in a family reunion. But it would take a monster offer that would be difficult for Toronto to make.
"Kypreos felt it could cost the Leafs a package offer of (Easton) Cowan, defense prospect Ben Danford, 'plus more' to land Robertson," writes Richardson. "He wondered if they had the stomach to make that move."
Photo: © James Guillory-Imagn Images
