Jason Robertson Said No to $120 Million. Now the Stars Are Running Out of Time.

The Dallas Stars have a real problem on their hands. Jason Robertson, their star winger and a restricted free agent this summer, just turned down a massive contract from the Seattle Kraken. And that means the Stars are back to square one with the NHL Draft less than a day away.

According to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, the two teams had worked out the framework of a trade. Seattle got permission to talk contract with Robertson, and they came ready to spend. The offer was reportedly an eight-year deal worth $120 million. That’s $15 million a year. It’s a lot of money for anyone. But Robertson said no.

We don’t know the full details of the proposed trade. Friedman did say the Kraken’s seventh overall pick in Thursday’s draft was part of the package. So this wasn’t some lowball attempt. Seattle was serious. And Robertson still passed.

The Kraken keep swinging and missing

This isn’t the first time Seattle has struck out on a big-name forward. Earlier this season, they were in on Artemi Panarin. He picked the Kings instead. Now Robertson has rejected them too. It stings, especially for a team that’s still trying to build out a credible top six and make a real push in a competitive Pacific Division.

For the Stars, the clock is ticking in a different way. Dallas doesn’t have the cap space to keep Robertson at the number he’s looking for. That’s why they started shopping him in the first place. But if they can’t find a trade partner soon, other teams could step in with an offer sheet. And that could leave the Stars with nothing but matching rights and a giant cap headache.

General manager Jim Nill has to figure this out before July 1. That’s when the offer sheet window opens. It’s not a ton of time, but it’s not nothing. The Stars have been here before with tricky contract situations. They usually find a way. But Robertson is different. He’s a 25-year-old winger coming off back-to-back 40-goal seasons. Guys like that don’t hit the market often.

What’s next for Dallas?

Right now, the Stars are probably working the phones with every team that has cap space and a need for scoring. The problem is that anyone trading for Robertson will have to sign him long-term at big money. That’s a tough ask for most teams. And after watching him turn down $120 million, some might wonder if he’s even willing to sign anywhere right now.

No official word from the Stars, the Kraken, or Robertson’s camp. But the silence says a lot. This situation is fluid and the draft is almost here. Something has to give.