Stars' Robertson files arbitration after Kraken deal collapses
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- Jason Robertson filed for salary arbitration before Sunday's 5 p.m. ET deadline, meaning he is no longer eligible to receive an offer sheet from another NHL team; an arbitrator will set his 2026-27 salary absent a pre-hearing deal, after which he hits unrestricted free agency in summer 2027.
- Robertson just completed a four-year, $31 million deal signed in 2022, turning 27 on July 22, and is a restricted free agent coming off a team-leading 96 points (45 goals, tied for the Dallas lead) last season.
- Dallas had a sign-and-trade framework in place to send Robertson to the Seattle Kraken in exchange for the No. 7 pick in last month's draft, but Robertson refused a long-term deal despite a reported $120 million, eight-year offer from Seattle.
- Stars GM Jim Nill downplayed the move: "The games don't start until September, and this is part of the contract negotiations," he said at his post-free-agency news conference Wednesday.
- A total of 15 NHL players filed for arbitration before Sunday's deadline, including Philadelphia's Jamie Drysdale, Columbus goaltender Jet Greaves (.908 save percentage, 26-19-9 in 55 games), Rangers defenseman Braden Schneider, Florida goaltender Akira Schmid, and Jason's brother Nick Robertson after his recent trade to Pittsburgh.
- Anaheim center Leo Carlsson was the indirect focal point of another filing: Philadelphia tendered him a five-year offer sheet on July 3 with an $18 million average annual value against the cap, prompting his center Trevor Zegras to file for arbitration.
Why it matters: Robertson's filing burns any chance of a competing offer sheet and hands the Stars his 2026-27 price tag by arbitration rather than the long-term deal Seattle reportedly floated at roughly $15 million AAV — Dallas now risks paying top dollar for a single year before losing a 96-point winger to the open market in 2027.
