It’s time for another round of NHL rumours. We’re nearing the start of training camp and that means the chatter will really start heating up. Things are really going to get interesting as general manager try to get deals done. Players entering the last year of their contract are eligible to sign new contracts. However, negotiations could be tough sledding and some tough choices may need to be made.
One team that has some tough decisions is the Dallas Stars. This edition of NHL rumours deals with what could be ahead in talks with a pending restricted free agent forward.
All NHL rumours come from the original source and are subject to change.
NHL Rumours
Latest with Dallas Stars and Talks with Key Forward
Rumour: A number of experts gave their take on what’s next with talks between the Stars and top forward Jason Robertson.
Analysis: David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period said that talks with Robertson and Dallas will have talks starting later this month. The Stars are at a crossroads with their pending RFA forward. Both Robertson and defenceman Thomas Harley are going to be RFAs at the end of the season.
Stars General Manager Jim Nill is going to have to plenty to deal with when it comes to trying to fit both players onto the roster. Nill may find that impossible despite the rising cap number. Both players are important pieces to the roster and both are deserving of a raise. However, that may not come to pass.
We’ve talked about both Robertson and Harley in previous editions of NHL rumours. Dallas is really up against the cap and that won’t improve unless Nill does some fancy footwork with clearing out some cap space.
A previous edition of NHL rumours has the Stars wanting to use Miro Heiskanen‘s $8.45 million contract as a template. That raise is going to cause problems and may leave Robertson and the Stars at an impasse.
What It Means
Insider Jeff Marek added his take on the situation on the DLLS Stars Podcast. Marek said that Robertson would be on the Stars’ roster. However, the NHL is in a salary cap world, which means tough choices.
Marek mentioned that there is a number that Dallas is comfortable with, but he did not specify. Robertson will be wrapping up his $7.75 million deal and his qualifying offer will be $9.3 million. This would put more strain on the Stars’ salary cap unless money is moved out.
However, Marek also mentioned one doomsday scenario if a deal isn’t done. He mentioned that Nill likely knows what he could get for a player like Robertson should a deal need to be made. The insider said there’s nothing Nill won’t do, even if that means parting with an important player.
Nill wants to prevent a situation where he doesn’t want a Mitch Marner situation happening. He’ll prevent Robertson from walking away for nothing unlike what the Toronto Maple Leafs did when they did not re-sign Marner. The veteran Leafs forward ended up signing for the Vegas Golden Knights in the off-season. Nill will make sure he gets something for Robertson if it comes down to it.
Main photo by: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
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