The Dallas Stars got a much-needed boost Friday night, edging out the St. Louis Blues 3-2 in a tight one that came down to the final minute. After a stretch where wins had been hard to come by-just four in their last 14-the Stars found a way to close, thanks to Jason Robertson, who continues to make his case as one of the league’s most consistent offensive threats.
With just 60 seconds left in regulation, Robertson buried the game-winner-his 30th goal of the season. That milestone puts him in elite company, joining Nathan MacKinnon and Connor McDavid as the only players in the NHL to hit the 30-goal mark so far this year. That’s not just a nice round number-it’s a loud statement about where Robertson stands among the game’s top scorers.
And yet, somehow, he won’t be suiting up for Team USA at the Winter Olympics in Milano-Cortina next month.
While MacKinnon and McDavid are expected to headline Team Canada’s roster, Robertson was left off the American squad, a decision that’s raised more than a few eyebrows-especially in Dallas. Head coach Glen Gulutzan didn’t mince words postgame.
“I’ll double down,” Gulutzan said. “I still don’t know why he’s not on the team.”
It’s a fair question. Robertson leads all American-born skaters in goals this season and trails only Jack Eichel in points-Robertson’s 60 just one shy of Eichel’s 61. That’s not just production, that’s production at the top of the leaderboard.
This isn’t the first time Robertson’s been overlooked on the international stage. He wasn’t part of last year’s 4 Nations Face-Off roster either, but this season, he believed he’d earned his spot.
“I thought that this year was different from last year,” Robertson said earlier this month. “Obviously last year, I didn’t think I was good enough.
Now, I think I did. It’s their choice and their decision, and that’s it.”
Team USA, led by GM Bill Guerin, opted to build their bottom-six forward group with an emphasis on size, physicality, and defensive responsibility. That approach left room for a handful of less offensively productive players to make the cut over Robertson, a decision that speaks to a specific vision-but one that’s hard to square with the numbers.
The American forward group heading to Italy looks a lot like the one that fell short against Canada in the 4 Nations final. Tage Thompson and Clayton Keller are in, Chris Kreider is out, and Robertson remains on the outside looking in.
For now, all Robertson can do is keep producing-and that’s exactly what he’s doing. Thirty goals by late January, a game-winner under pressure, and a coach who’s not afraid to go to bat for him. Whether or not he’s wearing red, white, and blue next month, Jason Robertson is making his presence felt-and the hockey world is taking notice.