NHLTR Mock Trade: Proposed Blockbuster Sends Jason Robertson to Penguins

The Dallas Stars are crunched for cap space. And the biggest casualty, despite the team making him their No. 1 priority this offseason, could be Jason Robertson. The three-time 40-goal scorer is a restricted free agent, and he is reportedly seeking a new contract that will be at least on par with his teammate Mikko Rantanen's $12M AAV salary. And potentially significantly higher.

With only about $10M in projected cap space right now for next season's roster, the Stars can't fit in an extension at those prices for Robertson. They also need to sign RFA Mavrik Bourque. But that's a story for another day.

As for Robertson, all indications are that Dallas will do everything in its power to somehow get him signed. But if they can't? Trade rumors have been circulating, and this proposed one-for-one blockbuster could raise a few eyebrows. The mock trade comes to us from Adam Gretz of Bleacher Report. He suggests the following:

Pittsburgh Penguins receive:

Jason Robertson

Dallas Stars receive:

Erik Karlsson
++

For Pittsburgh, Robertson, who is turning 27 this summer, would be not only the present but also the future of the team, able to take the torch from Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin whenever they hang up the skates. And as Gretz notes, "Their farm system has improved rapidly over the past two years, but it still lacks a potential star who can be a centerpiece" for the team for the future.

Jason Robertson is the ultimate answer to the Penguins getting 'younger' while remaining a playoff contender

If GM Kyle Dubas really wants to supercharge his 'Getting Younger While Keeping Crosby in the Playoff Hunt' plan, acquiring Robertson would be a sensational way to do it.

As for Karlsson going the other way as part of a package, "I cannot imagine prospects or long-term assets would be high on (Dallas') wish list. Maybe they would be part of the wish list, but not the focal point," writes Gretz. "Their Stanley Cup window is still wide open, and this could be an opportunity to address needs that will help them immediately."

In particular, a top-four right-shot defender behind Miro Heiskanen. Karlsson rejuvenated his career this season after two down years to start his run in Pittsburgh, and is back to being a top-four primary playmaker from the blueline.

As for the "plus plus" that would have to go to Dallas along with Karlsson in such a hypothetical trade scenario, the Penguins do have the #22 pick in the first round in this month's NHL Draft, and a slew of extra draft picks over the next couple of years: two second-rounders in '26, two seconds and two thirds in 2027, and six picks in the first three rounds in 2028.

Unless or until the Stars figure out a way to get Robertson signed, these types of proposed deals will continue to circulate.