It was officially announced by the Dallas Stars that they re-signed their star scorer Jason Robertson to a one-year $12 million contract. That means that Kyle Dubas and the Pittsburgh Penguins failed to land the star player, and that puts this story officially to bed for now.
With that in mind, it doesn't necessarily mean Robertson won't eventually end up in Pittsburgh at some point.
His one-year contract means he will be scheduled to hit unrestricted free agency next Summer, which will tie the Penguins back to the forward once again. It's clear that Dubas expressed plenty of trade interest in the winger, but nothing ever materialized on that front. Now that Robertson is re-signed with Dallas, he will have an entire year to mull over his future career path.
For those who are dying for the Penguins to make a trade, they will have to wait longer. Don't be shocked if the team recognizes their failures to address certain needs and take a step back for this upcoming campaign. Their team is worse than when they lost to the Flyers in the playoffs, and without Jason Robertson being an option, they could struggle to find an upgrade.
Failed Jason Robertson Pittsburgh Penguins trade could still see him land in the Steel City
Although acquiring Jason Robertson on the trade front would have been terrific in theory, it was always a pipe dream for the Penguins this offseason. The Stars are doing their best to take things year to year as they try and win a Stanley Cup. Letting Robertson go now would've hindered that goal. It was a disappointing conclusion for Pittsburgh in this saga.
Dubas' failure to navigate the trade market this offseason to find legit upgrades for his lineup is troublesome.
His roster is flawed, old, and has little to no space for younger pieces to make an impact on the team this season. Unless a couple of impactful trades are on the horizon following the Jason Robertson fallout, this club should prepare for being a mediocre team once again.
The good news for those who were eager to see Pittsburgh land Robertson is that the star skater is scheduled to hit free agency in 2027.
He should demand a hefty contract on the open market, and many teams will be interested. Expect the Penguins to be one of many teams pursuing Robertson if he hits the open market. Signing him to a massive contract rather than giving up assets for him in a trade might be the best long-term route.
Looking beyond the glimmer of hope of Robertson potentially joining the Penguins next Summer, is Dallas finally having an abundance of cap space. If they wish, there will be money for them to spend next offseason, which includes enough to re-sign the scorer long-term. All of this will come to a head next year, but for now, the Penguins will have to watch Robertson from afar.
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