Jason Robertson isn’t looking past the season in Dallas.
After putting pen to paper on a one-year, $12 million deal, the Stars forward said he’s not spending his summer wondering what comes next. When asked whether he sees himself with the team long term, Robertson kept it simple: “I’m just happy to start the season in Dallas right now.
I was pretty much planning to. They had my rights.
Now I can focus on this season and have a good summer.”
Around the league, the Philadelphia Flyers are still being linked to a few names if they ever hit the market. Anthony Di Marco of Daily Faceoff said in a mailbag that if the Seattle Kraken made defenseman Vince Dunn available, the Flyers would “definitely be interested.”
Dunn has one year left on his deal at $7 million, though Seattle is trying to compete and he’s likely not available right now. Di Marco also noted that the Flyers would be interested in Matty Beniers if he were ever made available.
The Kraken are looking to move Shane Wright, but it doesn’t seem like anyone else.
The Flyers also come up in Ottawa’s plans, though the Senators don’t appear eager to part with their centers. Di Marco reported that Ottawa is not interested in moving Dylan Cozens, Shane Pinto, or Ridly Greig.
Instead, the Senators are looking for a scoring winger and a top-four, right-handed defenseman. Rasmus Ristolainen has interested Ottawa in the past, and the two clubs look like natural trade partners, but sources say Sens GM Steve Staois refuses to talk about his centermen.
Elsewhere, the Anaheim Ducks have three players they could try to move this offseason: Chris Kreider at $6.5 million AAV, Alex Killorn at $6.25 million AAV, and Frank Vatrano at $4.57 million AAV. Dylan Larkin is still a trade candidate, but the Detroit Red Wings don’t have a GM.
And in Washington, Alex Ovechkin admitted he got a little uneasy watching the Capitals keep adding pieces. After the team traded for Jordan Kyrou and signed Alex Tuch to his big contract, then brought in Boone Jenner, Vincent Desharnais and Justin Holl, Ovechkin started to wonder if there would still be room for him.
“I was worried. ‘What if they didn’t offer me (a contract)?'”
Ovechkin recalled. “I was worried there wouldn’t be enough cap space to sign me.”
He eventually signed a one-year, $4.25 million deal with bonuses.
In Other News...
National Media Is Hammering The Kraken Where It Hurts Most
National opinion on the Kraken has turned sharply skeptical, and the criticism is landing on the parts of the organization that were supposed to signal a brighter future. Scott Wheeler took aim at two of Seattles first-round picks, calling center Shane Wright vanilla and Eduard Sale low-compete, while Adam Proteau went after the broader picture by labeling the club a dogs breakfast. Matt Larkin added to the chorus by arguing the roster has been built around middle-tier pieces instead of a true difference-maker.
The harsher read is not just about the standings, but about whether Seattles approach has actually moved the franchise forward at all. Proteau also placed Lane Lambert near the bottom of his head-coach rankings, and the common thread in all three evaluations is a team that still looks stuck between trying to contend and trying to develop. For a club that has spent years searching for a clearer identity, that is the kind of outside verdict that tends to linger. [Read more 🡒]
Kraken Blue Line Has A Quiet Battle Fans Should Watch Closely
Cale Fleury is set up for a meaningful camp and preseason stretch with the Kraken, with a chance to settle into the third defensive pair and carve out a steadier NHL job. The right-shot defenseman gives Seattle some balance on a blue line that has leaned on older veterans and faces some turnover, and his physical style adds a different look to a group that needs dependable depth as the season approaches.
Fleury is also in the second year of his contract, which makes this a timely proving ground for a player still trying to turn opportunity into permanence. He has reached 100 NHL games and has shown enough edge to keep himself in the conversation, but the real question for Seattle is whether he can hold that spot if the roster shifts again before opening night. [Read more 🡒]