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Rangers reportedly among teams ‘buzzing around’ Stars forward Jason Robertson
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- Rangers reportedly among teams ‘buzzing around’ Stars forward Jason Robertson
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With the New York Rangers expected to explore all trade options this offseason, Vince Mercagliano reports that Jason Robertson is among the biggest names generating League-wide interest as a potential acquisition.
Needless to say, the Rangers must look into this if the Dallas Stars indeed make the high-scoring forward available.
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"Teams are buzzing around the 25-year-old All-Star, wondering if they can seize on Dallas' itch for change following its third straight loss in the Western Conference Final," Mercogliano reported in LoHud.com. "The Rangers, I'm told, are one of them."
Robertson scored 46 goals and totaled 109 points in 2022-23. He's big (6-foot-3, 207 pounds), skilled and can play left or right wing. Twice he's scored 13 power-play goals in a season; plus he also has 56 games of Stanley Cup Playoff experience.
Entering the final season of a four-year, $31 million contract , with an average annual value of $7.75 million though the 2025-26, Robertson is a restricted free agent with arbitration rights when this contract expires. He'll be due a massive raise next summer. But, don't forget, the Rangers will shed Artemi Panarin's $11.64 million cap hit at the same time.
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Of course, acquiring a player of Robertson's caliber won't come cheaply, and the competition for him will be steep. Any deal would likely require a combination of young talent, future draft capital, and cap maneuvering. It's a high price, but one the Rangers should be willing to take on if they could strike a deal with the Stars.
Related: Oilers are latest team to show Rangers what's needed to compete for Stanley Cup
Why Stars could trade Jason Robertson this offseason
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At first glance, the idea of trading a dynamic young star who's scored 40 goals twice and recorded 80+ points three times may seem far fetched. But, the Stars have now reached the Western Conference Final in three straight seasons , falling short of the Stanley Cup Final each time. After another deep run ended in disappointment this spring , the organization may be looking to shake up its core after firing coach Peter DeBoer hoping to finally make a Stanley Cup Final appearance.
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Sometimes, even top-line players become part of a reset when a team feels like it has plateaued. Trading a high-profile player like Robertson could signal a shift in direction to the team — not a rebuild, but a recalibration aimed at reaching a new level.
But really the only reason for the Stars to trade Robertson is dollars and cents. Robertson is due a massive raise, likely past $10 million AAV on his next contract. Since the Stars are paying Mikko Rantanen $12 million yearly, perhaps keeping Robertson is too rich for their blood.
What it might take the Rangers to land Jason Robertson
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If the Rangers are seriously interested in Robertson, they'll need to part with meaningful assets — a combination of either promising young players, top prospects, or a package of draft picks to make the offer worthwhile for Dallas. Since they'll be without either their 2025 or 2026 first-round pick, and Chris Kreider is not enough to headline a package, the Rangers must be willing to deal younger, especially since they'd be getting an amazing player in his prime.
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So, the most realistic path involves the Rangers pairing future assets with a player like K'Andre Miller or Alexis Lafreniere. Brennan Othmann and/or Gabe Perreault could be part of a sizable package, especially if Dallas is looking to get a mix of 'ready-now' players and future assets. The possibility of a higher-stakes deal centered around Lafreniere and Miller wouldn't be off the table either, giving Dallas two players who could immediately find their role within the lineup. Plus it would work, at least next season, financially before Robertsons requires a hefty raise.
For now, it's all speculation — but if the Stars want to shake things up, Rangers general manager Chris Drury must decide whether the heavy cost of acquiring Robertson is worth paying.
Where Robertson would fit with Rangers
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Robertson would be a top-six fixture in the Rangers lineup, whether he plays the left side or right. Only Panarin projects to be a more productive scorer on the wing, with Robertson in line to take over Panarin's minutes in 2026-27.
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It's all speculative and dependent on whom the Stars would take in this hypothetical trade scenario, but Robertson would be a nice fit with any of the Rangers top centers: J.T. Miller, Vincent Trocheck, or Mika Zibanejad.
On the power play, Robertson could step into the top unit, filling the net-front role Kreider held for years or play the bumper spot depending on how the Rangers want to structure things. Simply, Robertson is a player you'd find a spot for.
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