Stars GM Opens Up On Jason Robertson's Future

The Dallas Stars got a big piece of business done last month, finally getting restricted free agent Jason Robertson signed to a deal after much consternation. But it was only a one-year deal for the coming season at $12 million. What about the future of the 40-goal sniper in Dallas?

Stars GM Jim Nill appeared on NHL Tonight on the NHL Network this week and was asked about that and how those negotiations went down.

It's always going to be hard. You're dealing with star players and  they deserve to get paid. And we're trying to find the right number that makes it fit so we can keep our team together. 

It just takes time. It's patience, it's time. And until you hit deadlines, nothing really happens. In the end, Jason, they filed for arbitration, which gives you a deadline, which is probably the best thing for both parties. And, so we were able to get that deal done. 

Okay, so it took some time, and the one-year deal finally got done. But now what? 

Now, moving forward, you know, our plan is to try to get (Robertson) signed here this season sometime, before he comes to UFA. 

Robertson set to become UFA next July 1 if no extension before then 

Indeed, if unsigned next July 1st, the 27-year-old will become an unrestricted free agent. Of course, the next deadline to get a longer-term deal done should come well before that, with the March 1st trade deadline being a critical date. 

How much animosity is left over from the hotly contested negotiations, and the actual trade that Robertson rejected that would have sent him to the Seattle Kraken, remains to be seen. The Kraken completed a sign-and-trade with Nill to obtain Robertson for the 7th pick in the Draft—if he would agree to an eight-year, $15M AAV contract with the Kraken. He turned down the idea of moving to Seattle. He didn't have a no-trade clause, but the deal was off without his signature on that extension. 

So the Stars remain a Cup contender this season, with Robertson in tow. At least for now.

Robertson is a three-time 40-goal scorer, one of the best in the business at finding the twine, and has averaged more than a point a game in his six full NHL seasons with Dallas, recording 213 goals and 490 points in 456 regular-season games. He's performed well in the playoffs as well, with 23 goals and 52 points in 63 games. He recorded five goals and eight points in their six-game loss to the Minnesota Wild.