Seattle took a swing at landing a true superstar and missed, as Dallas Stars winger Jason Robertson reportedly turned down an eight-year sign-and-trade offer that would have paid him roughly $15 million a season. The rejection blew up a framework deal between the Stars and Kraken and leaves Seattle scrambling for another way to land a top-line scorer.
The pursuit was first detailed by Elliotte Friedman on Sportsnet, which reported that Dallas had granted Seattle permission to speak with Robertson and that the Kraken's proposed eight-year, approximately $15 million per year contract was declined. Neither the Stars, the Kraken nor Robertson’s camp immediately addressed the report publicly, and Sportsnet noted the news broke late Thursday night.
Deal Details: What Was On The Table
Before Robertson said no, Seattle and Dallas reportedly had the broad strokes of a trade worked out, and that package was believed to include Seattle’s own first-round pick at No. 7 overall. Because Robertson is a pending restricted free agent, only the team that currently holds his rights can offer the full eight-year term, which meant the trade had to be completed before any contract could be finalized, according to Daily Faceoff.
What This Means For Seattle
The refusal is a clear early setback for general manager Jason Botterill and his effort to put a marquee name on the top line. FOX 13 Seattle described the outcome as a blow to the Kraken’s offseason blueprint, one that had already included swings at other big-ticket names earlier in the year. The club even made a previous run at Artemi Panarin, according to prior reporting by Sportsnet, so this is not the first time a star winger has slipped away.
Robertson's Market And Why He Passed
Robertson, born July 22, 1999, is set to hit restricted free agency on July 1 coming off a 45-goal, 96-point campaign. He has produced three 40-goal seasons in his last five, numbers that give him significant leverage and options as he decides where he wants the next phase of his career to play out. Those career totals and season lines are laid out on Wikipedia.
Where Things Go From Here
League chatter suggests Dallas will now revisit talks with other interested teams while still leaving the door open to reconnect with Robertson if the right scenario comes along. Yahoo Sports and other outlets report that the Stars are taking calls and gauging the broader market, so a new landing spot for Robertson, or a fresh round of negotiations in Dallas, could materialize quickly.
Draft Night Angle
For now, Seattle still holds the No. 7 overall pick in the 2026 draft, the same asset that reportedly would have been part of a Robertson package and that now becomes an alternate route to adding high-end talent. The choice of how Botterill uses that pick, whether as a trade chip or to select a prospect, takes on added weight after Robertson’s decision, as outlined in the Kraken draft preview on NHL.com.
For Seattle the board has shifted. The Kraken can chase other trade targets, bet on their drafting, or wait and see whether Robertson’s stance softens before July 1. For Dallas the puzzle is just as tricky: lock in their star winger on new terms or deal him to a destination more to his liking. Either way, one of the summer’s biggest pieces is still very much in play.
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