What Stars' Jason Robertson contract news means for Penguins trade plans

What Stars’ Jason Robertson contract news means for Penguins trade plans originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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The Dallas Stars and Jason Robertson have a contract agreement.

The news came out on Tuesday that it’s a one-year, $12 million deal for Robertson and the Stars.

They had been slated for salary arbitration, with the hearing scheduled for Saturday, but this avoids that:

Dallas announces it has signed Jason Robertson

1 year, $12M

He will be an unrestricted free agent next summer, but is eligible to sign an extension Jan 1 https://t.co/mpuS1T3dr2

— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) July 22, 2026

MORE:How a 3-team Dylan Larkin, Jason Robertson trade could work

The Stars are right up against the salary cap, and a $12 million deal for Robertson likely necessitates another move to stay under the line.

But it’s close enough to the cap that the Stars probably can keep Robertson.

It’s unlikely they would’ve agreed to such a deal this early in the week if their fear was that they’d still have to trade him.

Dallas will eventually have to decide whether it can move money around enough to give Robertson a longer-term extension, or if instead he’ll be a trade candidate at the deadline or a possibility to leave next summer.

Right now, though, teams like the Pittsburgh Penguins and Ottawa Senators that have been linked to Robertson are probably out of luck.

Dallas seems to have held back the tide for the time being.

Robertson is coming off a season with 45 goals and 51 assists, and it seems like he’ll be running it back with the Stars in the 2026-27 NHL season.

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