I Was Entertaining a Robertson Trade. Now I’m Not — and Here’s Why.

If you caught our recent live episode from June 10th (Will Jason Robertson Be Traded?) you know this was one of the most passionate, loaded, and frankly eye-opening conversations we’ve had on the podcast in a while. And if you didn’t watch? Well, buckle up, because I’m going to take you behind the scenes of where my head was at before, during, and after that show. Yes, at the start of the episode, I was openly entertaining the idea of trading Jason Robertson. By the end of the episode, I firmly believed Dallas should not and will not trade Jason Robertson.

What changed? Let’s break it down.

The Cap Crunch Is Real — And So Are the Rumors

First, let’s be clear: I wasn’t entertaining a Robo trade because I wanted to see him gone. Jason Robertson is an elite player. A point-per-game winger. An elite stickhandler and passer. And when his game is rolling, one of the most dynamic scorers the Stars have had in years. But here’s the harsh reality every Stars fan (and more importantly, every front office executive) is looking at this summer:

• We need cap space.
• We need a right-handed top-four defenseman.
• We have several contracts (hello, Matt Dumba and Ilya Labushkin) that are, to put it nicely, not providing value relative to cap hit.

And this is where the trade rumors start to make sense — at least on paper.

When Elliott Friedman talks about Robertson being in trade chatter? You pay attention. That’s not some random X (Twitter) account throwing things against the wall. If Friedman is talking about it, those conversations are happening behind the scenes even if it’s just GMs doing their due diligence. And then you layer in Jeff Marek’s comments, the fact that Jim Nill has made bold moves this year, and the reality that extending Mika Rantanen (if that is even in play) or filling key holes might require painful decisions.

Suddenly, Robo-for-cap-space becomes something fans (and hosts like me) start to genuinely think through. That’s where my head was going into this episode. Not pro-trade, but open-minded. Could it make sense? Is there a way this helps the team now and in the future?

The Value of Talking It Out Live

Here’s the thing I love about doing this show live with my brother Chris and smart guests like Juraj. I get challenged. We all do. And through that conversation, my thinking evolved. Rapidly. Juraj in particular laid out argument after argument that forced me to slow down and really think about what a Robertson trade would mean and whether the logic actually holds up.

Here were the points that really stuck with me:

1. Robertson’s Contract Is an Absolute Steal

Let’s start with this: at $7.75M AAV, Jason Robertson is performing like a $12M player or more.

• 100-point potential
• Excellent defensive stickwork
• Smart, patient puck movement in all zones
• Not just a sniper, an underrated playmaker and cycle player

As Juraj said on the show, these are the exact kinds of contracts Cup teams build around. Moving a player like that, at that kind of value, should only happen if you are getting overwhelming, franchise-changing value back. And the vast majority of trade ideas floating around, whether it's from media or fans on PuckPedia, don’t come close to matching that bar.

2. Trading From Weakness Rarely Ends Well

This was probably the most important point of the entire conversation.

Juraj reminded us of the Taylor Hall for Adam Larsson trade — a textbook example of a GM making a move from a position of desperation and weakness. The whole league knows Dallas needs cap space. If you dangle Robertson now, you are begging other GMs to squeeze you. That’s how you get back 75 cents on the dollar — or worse.

If you’re going to trade a player of Robo’s caliber, you want to do it when:

• You have leverage.
• You’re not desperate.
• You can drive the market, not chase it.

Right now? That’s not the case.

3. There Are Other Ways to Clear Cap

Look, we all see it. The Dumba and Lyubushkin contracts were mistakes. Moving them won’t be easy, and may require sweeteners — but it can be done. And frankly, trading Robo should be the last lever Jim Nill pulls, not the first. Dallas can explore buyouts, retained-salary trades, or packaging less valuable contracts first. You don’t tear down a core piece like Robo just to clean up mistakes on the margins.

4. Dallas Still Controls Robertson’s Rights

This one really hit home late in the episode. Robertson is still RFA next summer. That means Dallas still holds leverage. If it becomes clear you can’t sign him long-term? You can move him next year — when you’re not being held hostage by cap needs this July. That’s smart asset management. Trading him this summer, when you don’t have to? That’s poor process.

The One Trade That Actually Made Me Think

Now, to be fair, there was one trade idea that Juraj floated that I thought was legitimately worth pondering:

Jason Robertson + Nils Lundkvist → NY Islanders
In return: Noah Dobson (top-pair RHD) + Callum Ritchie (high-end center prospect)

That kind of package? That’s the kind of conversation you have if you’re going to consider moving Robo. Dobson is a legit first-pairing righty. Ritchie is a potential long-term core piece.

But even then, Juraj himself pointed out the pitfalls:

• Dobson will need a big raise soon.

• You’re still creating new cap headaches.

• You’re breaking up your best current offensive line structure.

And at the end of the day, is that trade moving you closer to a Cup this year? I’m not convinced it does.

Where I Landed And Why

By the end of this episode, my mind was clear.

I am now firmly in the do not trade Jason Robertson camp this summer. That’s not blind loyalty. It’s not fanboy thinking. It’s sound roster management. Dallas can and should pursue other cap solutions first. They have options. And if next summer, it becomes necessary to move Robo — then you do it smartly, with leverage. But now? In the middle of a Cup window?

“Dallas is not trading Jason Robertson.”

I said it live on air. I’m saying it again here. And I’ll keep saying it unless this front office gives me a very compelling reason otherwise.

Final Thought

I’m glad we talked about this. I’m glad we explored it. These conversations matter because the front office is having them too. And sometimes, working through all the angles is how you reach clarity.

That’s what happened for me on this episode.

• Trading Robo isn’t the answer
• Keeping him is

Now, Jim Nill? You’ve got some work to do on the margins, and we’ll be here talking about every move along the way.