Friday’s speculation increased the stakes, but Jason Robertson’s new contract might not be with the Dallas Stars.
According to insider David Pagnotta on Friday, competing clubs were considering giving Robertson a formal offer in the 15 million dollar AAV range and higher before the draft.
Pagnotta stated that these teams are currently considering the transfer.
Any team that Robertson plays for will benefit from his tested top-six scoring ability. In 82 games this season, he scored 96 points with 45 goals and 51 assists, ending at a plus-22.
He also contributed 15 power play goals and 9 game-winning goals, the kind of production that makes a front office sweat over an offer sheet.
In a separate report on Friday, Jeff Marek said that the Stars and Robertson are currently in talks.
Why Dallas can’t delay any longer
Robertson is ending a cap hit of $7,750,000, which appears to be a bargain relative to what his next deal will be.
Dallas would have days, not weeks, to match it if any offer sheet in the 15 million dollar area exceeded that number by more than double.
That’s the danger of allowing a deal to last till July. Other teams begin performing calculations on your player.
Dallas had a +52 goal differential, which contributed to their overall third place in the league with 112 points and a 50-20-12 record. The top line was carried by Robertson.
General Manager Jim Nill and head coach Glen Gulutzan are well aware of the impact losing that output would have on a roster designed to win now rather than rebuild later.
Also, Robertson was not only a frequent season scorer. In 6 postseason contests, he recorded 5 goals and 3 assists, a point-per-game average when the checking became more rigorous.
For a front office that still has a three-year Cup window remaining, it would be malpractice to allow a player of that caliber leave over a contract dispute. Bob has no qualms about stating that.
Two distinct threads are now being set in motion by The Sheet’s reporting: a danger of an offer sheet and a discussion with Dallas that is caught somewhere between gridlock and progress.
No matter how this ends, it won’t be silent for the remainder of July.
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