Jason Robertson Turned Down $120 Million — Then Signed for $12 Million Instead

The Dallas Stars and one of their most prolific scorers have been locked in an uncertain dance all summer, with trade rumors swirling and arbitration looming on the horizon. That tension finally eased Tuesday night when the two sides reached an agreement that keeps the franchise cornerstone in Texas for at least one more season, though the story behind the deal reveals just how close things came to a very different outcome.

A $12 Million Bridge After Rejecting $120 Million

Jason Robertson signed a one-year, $12 million contract with the Stars, the team announced on the eve of his 27th birthday. The deal came roughly two and a half weeks after Robertson had filed for salary arbitration, and it effectively tables the larger question of his long-term future until next summer, when he will be eligible for unrestricted free agency for the first time in his career.

The backdrop to this agreement makes it all the more fascinating. Stars general manager Jim Nill revealed after the NHL draft that the club had arranged a sign-and-trade package that would have sent Robertson to the Seattle Kraken in exchange for the seventh overall pick. While Robertson did not have the contractual power to block the trade itself, he refused to commit to a long-term extension with Seattle, reportedly turning down an eight-year deal worth $120 million, or $15 million per season. That decision effectively killed the deal and left the Stars to work things out with their star winger directly.

Robertson's new $12 million salary ties him with Mikko Rantanen for the highest cap hit on the Dallas roster. Rantanen is in the early stages of a $96 million, eight-year extension he signed to facilitate his trade from Carolina to Dallas at the 2025 deadline.

A Franchise Talent With Unfinished Business

The Arcadia, California native has been nothing short of spectacular since Dallas selected him 39th overall in the 2017 draft. Across 456 regular-season games, all with the Stars, Robertson has accumulated 490 points on 213 goals and 277 assists. He led the team with 96 points last season, notching 45 goals and 51 assists in 82 games. It marked his third career 40-goal campaign and capped a $31 million, four-year contract he signed back in 2022.

Robertson's 2022-23 season remains the stuff of franchise lore. He posted a career-best 109 points that year, earning a spot on the NHL First All-Star Team and representing Dallas at the All-Star Game. That total stands as the second-highest single-season scoring output by any player in franchise history. Since the start of the 2020-21 season, no Stars skater has more goals, assists, or points than Robertson, and he ranks 11th league-wide in scoring over that span.

Beyond the regular season, Robertson has contributed 52 points in 62 career playoff games and helped the Stars reach three consecutive Western Conference Finals from 2023 to 2025. He also added eight points in six postseason games last spring, leading the team in goals.

Nill praised Robertson's impact in a statement accompanying the signing. "A dynamic and skilled player, he has been one of the league's top offensive threats since making his NHL debut," the GM said. "We're excited for what this season will bring for both Jason and the team as we continue our push to bring a championship to Dallas."

With this one-year pact now in place, the clock immediately starts ticking toward what promises to be one of the most compelling contract sagas of the 2027 offseason. Robertson will play the upcoming season knowing that every shift carries weight not just for the Stars' championship aspirations but for his own financial future. Whether Dallas can lock him up long-term or whether he tests the open market next July remains the biggest unresolved question hanging over the franchise.