What happened: Jason Robertson remained an unsigned restricted free agent Wednesday, days after Dallas had a sign-and-trade in place to send the homegrown forward to Seattle for the seventh overall pick. Robertson would not commit long-term to the Kraken, reportedly declining an eight-year, $120 million package. General manager Jim Nill said the goal is still to re-sign him and that he stayed in contact with Robertson's representatives.
Why it matters: Robertson was Dallas's leading scorer last season with 96 points and 45 goals, his third 40-goal campaign, which makes him central to the club's contention window. Losing him would reshape a top six anchored by Mikko Rantanen, the team's highest-paid forward on a $96 million, eight-year extension. Keeping him means working through a qualifying offer, possible arbitration, and the right to match any outside bid.
By the numbers: Robertson has 490 points (213 goals, 277 assists) in 456 regular-season games since his February 2020 debut, including 365 points over 328 games the past four seasons. He turns 27 on July 22 and just finished a four-year, $31 million deal signed in 2022.
What to watch: The arbitration filing deadline lands Saturday, a marker for whether the standoff drags toward next summer's unrestricted free agency. Watch for whether Nill and Robertson's camp move toward a long-term extension or a one-year arbitration figure for 2026-27.