There are arguably two giant question marks for the Dallas Stars all season long, but fans may not have to worry long about one of their star players.
Jason Robertson, the Stars' left-wing stud who's coming off a 45-goal season, has a decision to make in the prime of his career. If he wants to make $15 million a year, which is his perceived market value, he's going to have better chances for rebuilding teams that can spend the money.
One thing Stars fans are worried about is that Robertson may pack up his bags and leave Dallas, as his $9.3 million base salary may not be enough to keep him if the Stars don't up their price. Fortunately, ESPN's Emily Kaplan believes there will be closure in the Robertson drama, and the Stars will get to keep their star left winger.
"The Jason Robertson saga will finally see some clarity and all signs point to an extension in Dallas, rather than a trade."
ESPN tells Stars fans not to worry about Jason Robertson
There was some concern with Robertson's contract, as he's a restricted free agent. The Stars retain their exclusive negotiating rights and can match any offer sheet he receives from another team. Currently, the two sides should be negotiating for him to stay long-term, as Kaplan confirmed in her report.
The Stars may not give him his market value, $15.7 million over the next eight seasons (subscription required), but it seems like $12 million is a reasonable amount. How do we know that? His teammate Mikko Rantanen is also making $12 million in average annual value (AAV).
Stars fans know how important Robertson is to their future. Stars general manager Jim Nill is on record saying he doesn't want to make many drastic changes, but rather get the right pieces to win a Stanley Cup, starting with Robertson. It's been on the radar for Stars fans for the last four seasons, but they haven't broken through teams like the Colorado Avalanche and Vegas Golden Knights have.
The Stars also have to think about what their longtime captain, Jamie Benn, is going to do. Benn has done his duty as the Stars captain, surpassing the 400-goal milestone earlier this year, but in recent years, he's been a liability in the playoffs. In the 2026 postseason, the captain recorded no points in the first-round series against the Minnesota Wild.
Nill really has two jobs this offseason. Give Robertson the extension, and sign key rotational pieces to give the Stars what they need to get over the playoff hump. He does that, and they actually might have a real shot.
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