Jason Robertson is staying in Dallas, but only on a short-term basis for now. The Stars and their star forward agreed to a one-year deal worth $12 million, a move that sends Robertson straight toward unrestricted free agency on July 1 if he doesn’t get an extension done before then. The two sides also can’t sign another contract until January 1.
That makes this a clear wait-and-see situation. Robertson has wanted to remain in Dallas, but he also wants to be paid what he believes he’s worth. For the moment, he’s taken what the source calls a one-year pay cut - yes, $12 million counts as that now - so he can keep the focus on winning this season while leaving open the possibility that Jim Nill will come back with a bigger offer after Tyler Seguin’s contract ends next June.
Elsewhere, Zakhar Bardakov is back in the KHL, but he’s not hiding his bigger goal. In an interview with a Russian outlet last week, Bardakov spoke highly of his lone season with the Avalanche and said he hopes to make it back to the NHL someday, possibly as soon as next summer. Colorado still holds his rights even after his return overseas.
Bardakov was one of several notable moving pieces this summer, and the changes have created a few interesting possibilities going forward. The source also points to five players who could reach career highs in 2026-27.
And then there’s the Patrick Kane question. The possibility of a Chicago reunion remains in play, with the Blackhawks and Kane still needing to see whether they can reach a deal.
In Other News...
Avalanche Cup Veteran Jack Johnson Just Took An Unexpected Hockey Turn
Jack Johnsons post-playing path has taken another turn, and it lands him back in the college game after a brief stop in scouting. The former Avalanche defenseman and 2022 Stanley Cup champion has moved into a new phase of his hockey life, shifting from the ice to the bench after retiring and spending a short stretch as a pro scout with Vancouver.
For Johnson, the next step comes in a familiar place in another sense, as he joins a successful NCAA program with a strong development track record. It is his first coaching role, and it gives him a chance to help shape players at Ohio State while beginning a new chapter in the sport that defined his career. [Read more 🡒]
Brett Kulak's Contract Just Drew A Brutal Label Avalanche Fans Will Hate
Brett Kulaks name showed up on an annual list no player wants to see, with The Athletic slotting the Avalanche defenseman No. 8 among the NHLs worst contracts. It is the kind of label that draws attention in Denver because Colorado has built around finding value on the blue line, and Kulaks deal has been part of that conversation since he signed a five-year, $22.5 million contract.
The Athletics case leans on a sharp downturn in impact and the numbers behind his play in recent stops, but that framing is easy to challenge when a defenseman still fits a useful role and the salary cap keeps rising. From the Avalanches perspective, the bigger question is less about a harsh ranking than whether Kulaks contract really belongs anywhere near the leagues bottom 10, or whether this is simply the kind of list that overstates a mid-tier deal in a changing market. [Read more 🡒]
Avalanche Face One Opening Night Choice That Could Define Their Depth
The Avalanche have already put together a second version of their opening-night lines, and the exercise only reinforces what has been obvious about this roster all summer: Colorado can lean on its depth down the middle. With a group built around center strength, the real question is how quickly Jared Bednar wants to put that advantage to work when the season begins.
Jaden Schwartz is already back at Family Sports Center and even has a new jersey number waiting for him, another small sign that camp is moving toward the real thing. What remains unsettled is how Bednar will deploy all that center depth in the opener, and whether he chooses to spread it around or stack it in a way that gives Colorado an immediate edge. [Read more 🡒]