Grading Stars’ 1-Year Extension for Jason Robertson

The Dallas Stars and Jason Robertson have finally agreed to a new contract, as Robertson has signed a one-year deal worth $12 million. This deal makes Robertson an unrestricted free agent after the 2026-27 season, but he is eligible for another extension as of January 1st, 2027.

Dallas announces it has signed Jason Robertson

1 year, $12M

He will be an unrestricted free agent next summer, but is eligible to sign an extension Jan 1 https://t.co/mpuS1T3dr2

— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) July 22, 2026

Robertson, who is 27 years old, scored 45 goals and added 51 assists for 96 points through 82 games with the Stars last season. In 456 career games, he has scored 213 goals and added 277 assists for 490 points, which comes out to a 1.07 points-per-game average.

There are arguments to be made about this deal, whether it is a good one or it’s a disaster for the Stars. In this article, we are going to give it a quick grade.

Robertson Signing Short-Term is Not a Good Thing

The main argument from Stars fans out of the gate was that this one-year deal buys the Stars some time before they extend him long-term next summer, because they will be getting some much-needed cap space, but I don’t think Robertson sees it that way.

Robertson wanted to remain with the Stars, and he made that clear extending with them for another season and coming down in his asking price. However, this deal gives all the leverage to Robertson, and that is a disaster for the Stars.

The Stars almost traded Robertson to the Seattle Kraken, before he rejected an extension to stay with them, and his name was in trade speculation for months leading up to this new deal. If the Stars aren’t in contention this season for whatever reason, he could become a trade piece at the 2027 Trade Deadline.

The fact the Stars would rather have traded Robertson, and put pressure on him to come down on his asking price if he wanted to stay with them, rather than give him what he is worth from the beginning, is genuinely embarrassing.

Either way, this is one of the worst case scenarios for the Stars. While Robertson may want to remain a member of the Stars, the fact the team cheaped out on a long-term extension and tried to trade him rather than give him what he is worth, likely puts a sour taste in his mouth. I don’t see a world where he is willing to take less money now, just to take more money next summer and do the Stars a favour.

Robertson was reportedly looking for around $14 million annually, and if he approached the Stars and asked for an eight-year extension for that price, there is no reason the Stars shouldn’t have signed that deal instantly.

Robertson is a top-15 player in the NHL without a doubt, and there are arguments to be made that he is a top-10 player. Not giving him exactly what he wanted from the beginning will likely come back to haunt the Stars.

The only two positives that come out of this deal is that Robertson is a member of the Stars for now, and his cap hit is fair. However, when looking at the bigger picture and his long-term future with the team, this is a horrendous deal.

I can’t see a world where the Stars are able to keep Robertson unless they overpay him next summer, and with another good season and a rising cap hit, his asking price could rightfully push $17 million annually.

Extension Grade: D-

On top of all of this, the Stars moved out Mavrik Bourque and Ilya Lyubushkin, and will likely be losing Robertson next summer. When looking back in a couple of years, this will be what people recognize as what started the rebuild, which seems inevitable at this point.

One thing is becoming a very clear rule in this league, and that is sign your star players long-term as soon as you can and don’t cheap out on them.

Robertson remaining with the Stars past the 2026-27 season would be shocking, after all the drama that has surrounded him this summer.

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