Dallas Stars Weighing Options with Jason Robertson
The Dallas Stars are in a bit of a pickle with their star forward, Jason Robertson. After the 2026 NHL Draft, GM Jim Nill opened up about a potential deal to send Robertson to the Seattle Kraken.
However, it didn’t quite hit the mark for the Stars. Despite the swirling trade rumors, Nill emphasized that the team is still keen on keeping Robertson in Dallas.
The challenge lies in making the numbers work.
Robertson's contract is set to expire on July 1st, and he's in line for a hefty pay raise from his current $7.75 million salary. The buzz around the league is that there's a $2 million gap in negotiations: Robertson's camp is eyeing a $14 million annual average value, while the Stars are capping their offer at $12 million. As July 1st approaches, Dallas is preparing for any outcome regarding Robertson's future and the team's direction.
Ottawa Senators Continue Roster Revamp
The Ottawa Senators are not hitting the brakes on their roster adjustments. GM Steve Staios has been busy, and he's not done yet.
After trading away Brady Tkachuk, the Senators snagged William Eklund from the San Jose Sharks and Andre Burakovsky from the Chicago Blackhawks. They also locked in Jordan Spence with a four-year, $20 million deal, averaging $5 million per year.
But Staios has more up his sleeve.
His focus is on deepening the team's talent pool, whether through free agency or further trades. However, Staios is clear that any new addition must genuinely enhance the team, not just be a move for the sake of action.
On another note, the lines of communication are wide open between the Senators and players like Claude Giroux and Nick Cousins. While both players are exploring their options in the open market, they have expressed a preference to remain in Ottawa. It's still up in the air whether either would consider a hometown discount.
Detroit Red Wings and Dylan Larkin's Trade Request
In Detroit, Steve Yzerman has confirmed Dylan Larkin's trade request, noting a shortlist of preferred teams. Larkin still has five years left on his contract, and Yzerman is focused on doing what's best for the Red Wings. The process is ongoing, with Larkin's agent, Pat Brisson, working closely with the team to find a mutually beneficial solution.
The buzz around the league suggests that a third team might need to get involved to make a trade happen. Yzerman is looking for roster players, not just future assets, to keep the Red Wings competitive in the near term.
The NHL offseason is heating up, and these stories are just a taste of the action. Keep an eye on these developments as teams navigate the ever-changing landscape of the league.
In Other News...
Zach Werenski Trade Buzz Just Put Blue Jackets Fans On Edge
The latest round of trade chatter has put an old Ottawa headache back in the spotlight, even if the Senators are only watching from the sidelines. Brady Tkachuks future has been a topic before, and the recent reporting around his contract situation only adds another layer to a summer in which big names and big decisions keep colliding across the league.
There is also a familiar Eastern Conference edge to the noise, with Zach Werenskis name now part of the conversation as multiple teams circle and no-move clauses come into play. For Ottawa fans, it is the kind of league-wide drama that can still matter close to home, because every star who becomes available changes the market around them and raises the stakes for the Senators own long-term plans. [Read more 🡒]
Staios Just Put Ottawas Entire Rebuild On The Line
Kyle Staios has already put a very different stamp on Ottawas rebuild, reshaping the roster in a way that signals urgency as much as patience. The Senators president of hockey operations and general manager has added William Eklund, Samuel Ersson and Andre Burakovsky while talking up the teams defensive progress and the identity Travis has been trying to build behind the bench.
Burakovsky stands out as the kind of move Ottawa does not make lightly, a calculated swing on a player the club studied closely because of his experience and past success. Even with that work done and the roster clearly changed, the bigger question hanging over the Senators is how much the group has really shifted in the wake of losing Brady Tkachuk, and whether the next step forward still looks the same from here. [Read more 🡒]
Senators Face A Massive Artem Zub Decision This Offseason
Artem Zubs value to Ottawa showed up all season, from the steady minutes he logged to the way he and Jake Sanderson quietly formed one of the leagues most effective defensive pairs. Zub also delivered the most productive year of his career in 81 games, giving the Senators a right-shot defender who brought structure at even strength and enough offense to make his role even more important heading into the offseason.
Now comes the hard part for the Senators, who are expected to open talks on a new deal that could run four or five years. The number attached to that conversation is not small, with the sides likely circling a range in the neighborhood of $6 million to $6.5 million per season, a price that reflects both Zubs importance and the reality that Ottawa has to decide how much it wants to invest in keeping that pairing intact for the long haul. [Read more 🡒]