Dallas Stars general manager Jim Nill spoke Wednesday on the one-year, $12 million contract winger Jason Robertson signed Tuesday to avoid arbitration.
The two sides were scheduled to have a hearing on Saturday, and the one-year term offers little clarity on the 27-year-old’s future with the team. Robertson is eligible to hit unrestricted free agency next summer and cannot sign a new deal with the Stars - or any team if traded - until January.
Dallas appeared to be ready to part ways with the winger last month before a potential trade with the Seattle Kraken fell apart when Robertson rejected an eight-year contract at a cap hit of roughly $15 million from the west coast team.
“During his negotiations, it was very clear Jason Robertson wanted to be a Dallas Star,” Nill said Wednesday.
The general manager added that keeping Robertson on a long-term deal is the goal moving forward.
“That’s our plan. Yes,” Nill said. “And like I said, a lot of things happen, but that that is our plan. We discussed that.”
“We hope someday that he retires here,” he added.
According to PuckPedia, Robertson’s new deal puts the Stars $1.36 million over the cap with roughly two months left before the season starts. The team has no more restricted free agents, having traded forward Mavrik Bourque to the Nashville Predators ahead on July 1 as he was set to become an RFA. Dallas also moved out defenceman Ilya Lyubushkin in that deal, clearing an additional $3.25 million in cap space.
The Stars are set to be flush with cap space next summer, which could help the club retain Robertson when the two sides reopen negotiations. Dallas is currently set to have more than $41 million to spend, per PuckPedia, with 10 roster spots to fill. Along with Robertson’s new $12 million hit coming off the books, Tyler Seguin’s eight-year contract at an $9.85 million cap hit is set to expire.
Robertson led the Stars in scoring last season, recording 45 goals and 96 points in 82 games. He added five goals and eight points in six playoff games before the Stars were eliminated in the first round.
The 6-foot-3 winger is coming off a four-year, $31 million contract that carried a cap hit of $7.75 million. His new deal came as an early birthday gift, signing the contract on the eve of his 27th birthday.
Drafted 39th overall by the Stars in 2017, Robertson has 213 goals and 490 points in 456 career games.
Robertson’s best season game during the 2022-23 campaign, recording 46 goals and 109 points in 82 games and was named a first-team all-star.
