Jason Robertson’s contract stalemate with the Dallas Stars took another turn Sunday, when the 26-year-old winger filed for salary arbitration along with 14 other players.
The move matters right away: once a restricted free agent files for arbitration, he becomes ineligible to receive offer sheets. For Robertson, it adds another layer to an offseason that has already dragged on without a new deal.
Robertson just wrapped a four-year, $31 million contract that carried a $7.75 million average annual value, and he’s coming off a huge season for Dallas with 45 goals and 51 assists. He remains the biggest unsigned RFA still waiting on a new contract this summer.
There was already a major twist in the background. The Stars had a trade lined up last week that would have sent Robertson to the Seattle Kraken, but Robertson made it clear he would not sign a long-term contract there. Seattle reportedly put an eight-year offer on the table with an average annual value of $15 million.
Robertson wasn’t the only notable name to file. Trevor Zegras and Jamie Drysdale of the Philadelphia Flyers, Braden Schneider of the New York Rangers, Jet Greaves of the Columbus Blue Jackets, Kirby Dach of the Montreal Canadiens, Connor McMichael of the St. Louis Blues and Cole Perfetti of the Winnipeg Jets were among the other players who went the arbitration route.
For the restricted free agents who did not file, their teams have until 5 p.m. ET Monday to elect arbitration themselves.
If that happens, hearings will be set between July 20 and Aug. 1.
Clubs can still dodge the hearing process by striking a deal with their arbitration-eligible RFAs before then.
McMichael’s case comes with its own wrinkle after he was acquired by the Blues in a draft-day trade with the Washington Capitals for Jordan Kyrou. Nick Robertson of the Pittsburgh Penguins and Akira Schmid of the Florida Panthers are also heading into arbitration with new teams.
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