The offseason raised uncertainty around Jason Robertson’s future in Dallas, whether the player drafted by the Stars in 2017 will sign an extension this season and, if not, whether he will remain in a victory green sweater once he becomes an unrestricted free agent in 2027.
Many of those questions are still unanswered. But the Stars also hoped the uncertainty could be a positive in the short term.
The 26-year-old has a lot to play for this season — a new contract, a spot on Team USA’s Olympic roster and redemption from an inconsistent 2024-25 season. Stars GM Jim Nill was open about hoping those motivators could bring the best out of Robertson.
“He can now come in clear-minded and say, ‘Oh, I’m going to have my best year,’ and that’s what I’m looking forward to as general manager,” Nill said ahead of the season. “We’re getting the best version of Jason Robertson.”
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Through 20 games, the Stars have gotten the absolute best out of their star goal scorer, and his latest stretch of games may be among the best he’s ever had.
Robertson leads the team in goals with 11, but eight of them have come in the last four games along with 11 total points. The forward was named the NHL’s first star of the week Monday and didn’t slow down in Tuesday’s 3-2 loss to the New York Islanders, where he scored two goals and was in on what would’ve been the game-tying third had he not been called for a questionable goaltender interference penalty.
Robertson has two or more goals in three straight games. He scored a hat trick at home against the Flyers on Saturday, the sixth of his career.
“Just give him the puck,” Tyler Seguin said of his linemate. “He’s shooting everything, and a lot’s going in. We kind of expected it to come. Happy to see it.”
Robertson also had high expectations for himself this season, knowing that even though he stayed consistent with 80 points for the last two years, he wasn’t at his best. Surgery ahead of last season led to a slow start that kept him off Team USA for the 4 Nations Face-Off. He hit his stride midway through the season, but even then didn’t feel fully himself.
“Some people, when they don’t play, they feel lost and dark,” Robertson said ahead of this season. “I was kind of the opposite. I was playing, and I was feeling kind of lost. Looking back now, maybe I pushed myself too hard to come back too soon. Nothing I can do about that now. It’s a good lesson to learn.”
He then suffered a knee injury in a meaningless Game 82, which sidelined him for the start of the playoffs.
Ahead of last March, Robertson’s role on the team was clear — the elite scorer and top-liner that Dallas would always look to for clutch goals. But the trade for Mikko Rantanen brought that same skill set role and called into question whether the Stars would even be able to retain Robertson if he sought a deal close to Rantanen’s $12 million AAV.
The contract questions haven’t been resolved, but Robertson has proved his role is as important as ever. With a heavily injured roster, the Stars have needed their best healthy players to step up. Robertson has relieved some of the pressure on rookies and inexperienced depth players to score.
“Maybe I’m shooting the puck a little bit more and being a little bit more assertive, but I’ve had those chances all season,” Robertson said. “I’m just glad they’re going in. When I get one or two, confidence goes up. Shots get maybe a touch harder, more accurate.”
Nill still has his work cut out for him to keep Robertson around long-term. But the forward is certainly making it difficult to let him walk in free agency — or for Team USA to let him go to Cabo on vacation this February.
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