As Dallas faces a contract stalemate with their superstar sniper, a blueprint emerges for Lou Lamoriello to leverage draft capital and young talent for a franchise-altering acquisition.
BUFFALO, NY -- It was about a year ago when the New York Islanders traded pending restricted free agent defenseman Noah Dobson to the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for forward Emil Heineman, and the No. 16 and No. 17 in the 2025 NHL Draft.
The trade occurred after Dobson and first-year general manager Mathieu Darche could not come to terms on a contract extension. Although Dobson didn't have any trade protection, he had all the leverage given that he would only move to a team that he was interested in signing with.
Dobson was believed to be asking for something in the $10 million range from the Islanders, but ended up signing an eight-year deal worth $9.5 million annually in Montreal.
Flash-forward a year later and the Dallas Stars find themselves in the same situation with pending RFA forward Jason Robertson.
The 26-year-old goal scorer, who just concluded the final season of a four-year deal worth $7.75 million, turned down an eight-year extension worth $12 million annually.
While Dallas is hoping they can still bring him back, time is ticking and other teams are lining up.
The St. Louis Blues, who own four first-round picks in this draft, were told no by Robertson's camp.
The Seattle Kraken, who have been trying to go big-game hunting for a few years now, were given permission to speak with Robertson, but he turned down $15 million annually on an eight-year deal.
I believe Dobson turned down extensions with the Boston Bruins and the Columbus Blue Jackets before the Islanders sent him to Canada.
While there's been some chatter that the asking price for Robertson is similar to the one that Dallas sent to the Carolina Hurricanes for Mikko Rantanen -- Logan Stankoven, a conditiional 2026 first-round pick, a conditional 2028 first-round pick, a 2026 third-round pick and a 2027 third-round pick -- I was told that isn't accurate.
The accurate ask is what the Colorado Avalanche got for Rantanen when they sent him to the Hurricanes -- Martin Necas, Jack Drury, a 2025 second-round pick and a 2026 fourth-round pick.
It doesn't sound like Dallas wants futures, but impact players given that they are a Stanley Cup contender and would like to stay that way, with or without Robertson.
One would expect that every team has called Stars general manager Jim Nill regarding Roberston, including the New York Islanders.
However, the Islanders are a team that doesn't have an impact winger to send back the other way -- not many teams do.
