Stars Still Have Many Things to Figure Out After Robertson Re-Signing
At long last, the Jason Robertson saga is over, or is it? The Dallas Stars inked him to a 1-year, $12 million deal on Tuesday, avoiding the arbitration hearing set for Saturday.
Now what?
The Stars got their man, their team, and are ready to run it next season. Not so fast. While the immediate need of settling this long-brewing situation of a Robertson contract over the last year is over, the Stars have more things to do before the season starts.
The Stars are not cap compliant, needing to make a trade or face massive repercussions from the league.
Another situation arises next season, as Robertson will not transfer from restricted to unrestricted free-agent status.
Looks like Stars fans will go through this whole thing again.
Free Agency Status
Jason Robertson stays in Dallas for one more year. This is his final contract as a restricted free agent. Any team can sign him on July 1st, 2027. There are no draft pick compensations or offer sheets. Now the Stars have a little less than a year to re-sign him to an extension. If that doesn’t happen, then the Stars will lose him to free agency and get nothing.
Many teams allegedly considered sending him an offer sheet.
Now the four compensation 1st-round draft picks are off the table. Supposedly, Robertson turned down an over $15 million AAV contract with several teams, displaying his desire to stay in Dallas. The Stars can now return their commitment by opening up a massive amount of cap space.
Money Issue, Then Not
One of the biggest things about all of this is the salary cap problem the Stars faced by signing him. A safe 1-year, $12 million contract bridges that gap. The immediate problem is being cap-compliant on Opening Night. The Stars must commit a trade to free up about $1.3 million in cap space. A cap-dump trade for draft picks will solve this problem. The Stars can now sign Robertson to an extension for the dollar amount he wants and deserves.
Tyler Seguin spent 13 years with the team, elevating himself to the top 10 in franchise history for many major categories like games played and points. Although he has contributed much to the franchise’s lore, his $9.85 million AAV contract is a problem for cap space. That contract finally ends after this season. The NHL salary cap increases to $113.5 million next season. That gives the Stars about $17 million cap space after next season, plenty of money to sign Robertson to a long-term extension.
That takes care of most summer business. Opening Night is on Friday, October 2nd, against the St. Louis Blues. Enjoy the rest of the summer as you can breathe easier that the Stars re-signed Robertson.
Go ride Tormenta: Rampaging Run at Six Flags Over Texas before the Fright Fest crowds get a hold of it.
We’re just over two months away from the start of the season. It’ll be here before you know it.
There are still some housekeeping tasks, but they have two months to figure it out.
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