While it was rumored a couple of weeks ago that the Dallas Stars were willing to move Jason Robertson for Dylan Larkin, that option has been cut off for the short term future. The stud Stars winger filed for arbitration and was awarded a one year, 12 million dollar contract.
The number for Robertson’s contract is likely a little lower than what the 27 year old had expected, especially after rejecting a rumored 15 million dollar extension with the Seattle Kraken if he agreed to a trade. But, the benefit is that Robertson now has a runway straight to unrestricted free agency next year.
For Dallas, 12 million dollars a year is pretty much the maximum amount the team could afford to put on the books. Robertson will be eligible to sign another extension with the team after January 1 of next year. Dallas is likely to try and do everything within their power to keep him in the lone star state before he hits free agency 6 months later in July.
Luckily for them, Jim Nill has set it up so that the Stars will have plenty of cap space in the next offseason, when all 32 teams will be able to vie for his services.
The move has eliminated yet another of Larkin’s preferred trade destinations from even dreaming of contending for the perennial 70 pt player. With Steve Yzerman having stepped down as of last week, however, it was unlikely for any movement from Detroit.
Without Yzerman at the helm, or even a new general manager, any new additions to the team won’t surface soon. Meanwhile Larkin seems more and more likely to be staying put, along with the rest of the roster.