The Dallas Stars and Jason Robertson can’t seem to find common ground, and the clock is running. According to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, the next step is likely salary arbitration. Robertson wants Dallas to budge. Friedman doesn’t see that happening right now.
This isn’t the first time contract talks have gotten tense between Robertson and the Stars. The 26-year-old forward has established himself as one of the league’s most dangerous scorers, and he’s looking for a deal that reflects that. The Stars, meanwhile, have cap concerns and other pieces to fit into the puzzle.
Robertson’s agent and the team have gone back and forth for months. There’s been no real breakthrough. Arbitration would let a neutral third party decide Robertson’s salary for next season — likely within the $9 to $10 million range on a one-year deal, according to Friedman’s colleague Nick Kypreos. That’s not cheap, but it’s also not a long-term commitment for Dallas.
What arbitration means for Robertson and the Stars
If Robertson goes to arbitration and gets a one-year award, he becomes a restricted free agent again next summer. That would give him another crack at a long-term deal, but it also means he’s playing out next season without full control over his future. The risk is obvious: one bad injury and that big payday could vanish.
On the other hand, signing a long-term deal now would lock him in but also limit his leverage down the road. A multi-year contract wouldn’t include a no-trade clause in the first season because it’s not an unrestricted free agent year. So even if he signed for six or seven years, the Stars could theoretically trade him before that clause kicks in.
Robertson had a monster 2025-26 season — 45 goals and 96 points in 82 games, plus eight points in six playoff games. That production makes him one of the most valuable young wingers in the league. The Stars know it. Robertson knows it. The gap in negotiations seems to be about term and structure, not Robertson’s worth on the ice.
What’s next for Dallas
General manager Jim Nill has a lot on his plate. The Stars are trying to stay competitive in a stacked Western Conference, and Robertson is central to those plans. But Nill also has to manage the cap and think about what extensions for other players might look like down the line.
Arbitration hearings usually happen in late summer. If Robertson and the Stars end up in front of a neutral arbitrator, both sides will present their cases publicly — which can get ugly. Teammates, coaches, and fans all watch that process closely. It’s not ideal for team chemistry, but it happens more often than you’d think.
For now, it’s a waiting game. Robertson could still sign before a hearing. But the longer this drags, the more likely it is that a neutral party decides his value. Either way, the Stars front office has a big decision to make about how much they want to commit to one of their best players.
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