Dallas Stars general manager Jim Nill speaks during his end of season news conference at Comerica Center on Thursday, May 7, 2026, in Frisco.
Elías Valverde II/The Dallas Morning News
FRISCO — Stars general manager Jim Nill made it clear that re-signing Jason Robertson is a top priority this offseason.
“That’s our focus is to get him signed,” Nill said during his end-of-season media availability Thursday. “He’s a big part of our team, and we’ve drafted and developed him, and we think he’ll be a Dallas Star for the rest of his career.”
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The 26-year-old forward is a restricted free agent this offseason and an unrestricted free agent next year. As an RFA, the Stars still have team control. If Dallas makes him a qualifying offer of $9.3 million by June 29, the Stars will retain negotiating rights, meaning they have the right of first refusal to match any offer sheet that Robertson receives from another team.
The Stars don’t need to sign Robertson to a long-term extension this summer to keep him on the roster next year, but they might to keep him beyond that. Without extending him to a contract with term this offseason, Robertson could be inclined to test the market as a UFA next offseason and potentially walk for free. His contract, which may be as sizable as $12 million annually, like Mikko Rantanen’s deal, is a key piece of the puzzle that Nill and his staff need to know before re-signing and extending other players.
“There’s some minor things I can do, but he is an important piece, so I’d like to get that done sooner than later,” Nill said.
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Of course, there’s the option if the Stars wanted to trade Robertson. The return would certainly be sizable, but Nill didn’t even entertain that hypothetical Thursday.
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“I’m not even focused on that right now,” he said. “I want to see where they’re at. We’ll figure it out. In negotiations, there’s always a number that both parties can agree to. We’ve got to find it.”
Nill said he plans to reach out to Robertson’s agent, Andy Scott, in the next week to resume the conversations that were put on hold last offseason. Robertson switched agents midseason, so Nill and his former agent Pat Brisson agreed last summer to table discussions.
“We didn’t want any distractions,” Nill said. “Let’s let this go. Let’s go have a good year, get your game going again, and we’ll talk at the end of the season.”
That worked out in Robertson’s favor, as the forward had a standout season. Robertson tied for fourth in the league with 45 goals. He recorded 96 points in 82 games and went on to score a goal in each of his first five games of the playoffs. Making just $7.75 million annually on his current deal, his performance guaranteed he’s due for a massive raise.
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“I thought he played as well as he has in his career,” Nill said. “I thought his skating got better and better, and I thought his physicality got better. He started to manage the physical parts of the game, in corners and managing in front of the net. He did a great job.”
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Robertson addressed his contract negotiations Monday in his end-of-season availability, saying he was “optimistic” but adding that “it’s a business on both sides.” Robertson didn’t state clearly one way or another whether he hoped or thought he would be back in the fall.
The Stars also have limited salary cap room, even with the cap going up $8.5 million next season. The Stars are projected to have just $11 million to sign 2-3 forwards, per PuckPedia, but Nill said that didn’t concern him entering negotiations with Robertson’s team.
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“It doesn’t really come into play,” he said. “We can make other adjustments.”