5 Best Trade Packages for Jason Robertson
Even though the Dallas Stars are coming off their third consecutive Western Conference Finals appearance and have been one of the NHL's best teams over the past six years, they still seem headed for a potentially tumultuous offseason. They already fired head coach Peter DeBoer, re-signed Matt Duchene and sent away Mason Marchment in a salary-cap clearing trade.
The biggest potential move, however, could be their decision with forward Jason Robertson.
Robertson is one of the Stars' best and most dynamic forwards, is in the prime of his career, and when he is at his best has MVP-level potential.
But with the Stars facing a salary cap crunch in the short-term, and with Robertson entering the final year of his contract and in line for a significant raise, his name has shockingly surfaced in trade speculation.
Will he get moved?
Probably not.
The Stars shouldn't move him, at least. Or at least not be in a hurry to move him.
But as long as his name is in the rumor mill, let's take a look at some potential matches and trade packages that might exist for him.
Whenever a player like Robertson gets mentioned in trade rumors there is always a rush of opposing fans and media putting together potential trade packages that limit all of their best prospects and draft picks, and the team that currently has the star player rejecting them all and asking for the moon back in return.
The reality is that these trades never look like you expect. There is typically a formula for them that usually results in a good, high-end young player, a first-round draft pick, a good prospect and maybe a veteran NHL roster-filler to help balance some of the money.
So with that being said. Let's look at some potential options and scenarios.
Los Angeles Kings
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Even though both teams are Western Conference rivals there is a potential match here for both teams to get something significant that they want.
The Kings have run into a wall and can not get past the Edmonton Oilers, losing to them in the first-round an almost improbable four years in a row. They do everything well defensively and in terms of driving possession, but they need more finishers.
Robertson could help with that.
The Stars also have a desperate need for more help on the right side of their defense.
The Kings could help with that.
The hypothetical trade package: Defenseman Brandt Clarke, 2025 first-round draft pick, forward Alex Turcotte
Clarke would give the Stars a young, right-handed defenseman capable of playing top-pairing minutes and still having his best days ahead of him. He would be the highlight of the trade package for sure. The Kings might not be wild about dealing him given his age and upside, but the Kings defend extraordinarily well and do a really good job of bringing along defensemen. They need more scoring and finishing, and it would be a price worth paying.
New York Rangers
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After missing the playoffs in 2024-25 you can be sure the New York Rangers are going to be out for significant changes.
They better be, anyway, and they could certainly use an in-his-prime star like Robertson. Too many of the Rangers' top players are on the wrong side of 30, and too many of them just aren't all that impactful.
If a player like Robertson is available, the Rangers should aggressively be going after him and not be afraid to deal some young players or picks.
The hypothetical trade package: Defenseman Braden Schneider, forward Brennan Othmann, first-round pick
Schneider needs a better opportunity than the one he's been getting in New York, and would help satisfy the Stars' need for a right-shot defenseman.
Othmann is still unproven, but is a strong prospect that brings offensive upside and some bite to a Stars team that is looking to get tougher and harder to play against this season.
The status of the first-round pick would be up in the air. The Rangers have until right before the draft to decide if they will send either their 2025 or 2026 first-round pick to the Penguins. Whichever one they don't send could be used a trade asset for an immediate roster upgrade.
Detroit Red Wings
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It has been almost a decade since the Detroit Red Wings qualified for the Stanley Cup Playoffs, and they have yet to do so under the watch of general manager Steve Yzerman.
They are not really getting close, either.
It's time.
It's time to make a big move, it's time to make the team better, and it's time to start doing something meaningful.
The Red Wings have a strong farm system and a full cupboard of draft picks to deal from, while also having a major need for more offense. They need more defense, too, but Robertson is a potentially available top-line forward that could dramatically make the team better.
The hypothetical trade package: Defenseman Axel Sandin Pellikka, forward Jonatan Berggren, first-round pick
Sandin Pellikka is an outstanding prospect and one of the Red Wings' top young players, and Yzerman has been hesitant to deal from his prospect pool for short-term gain, but this isn't some run-of-the-mill player. This is an in-his-prime star that could be a long-term fixture in the lineup with Dylan Larkin, Lucas Raymond and Alex DeBrincat.
Pellikka would be a great centerpiece return for the Stars who, again, need more depth on the right side of their defense.
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Calgary Flames
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The Calgary Flames significantly overachieved in 2024-25, narrowly missing out on the playoffs due to a lack of offense.
Robertson would give them a top-line scorer that could help potentially fix that weakness in a big way.
It also might be a great opportunity for two teams to make a good, old fashioned hockey trade.
The hypothetical trade package: Defenseman Rasmus Andersson, first-round pick
The Flames need offense. The Stars need defense. Both Robertson and Andersson are in the final year of their contracts and would ideally fit the needs for each other. While Andersson is an outstanding defenseman, Robertson has more value in a trade and would require more coming back from Calgary. The Flames also have four first-round picks over the next two years that they can deal from. Both teams would still have to worry about new contract extensions before the players become unrestricted free agents, but in the short-term it would address some big needs.
Carolina Hurricanes
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This would be fascinating situation to watch unfold.
Just months after the Hurricanes and Stars completed a blockbuster trade involving Mikko Rantanen, let's put them together for another blockbuster involving Robertson.
After another Eastern Conference Final loss the Hurricanes still have a need for another impact forward. They are also positioned as well as any other contender in the NHL to take a huge swing this offseason, swimming in salary cap space and draft pick capital while also having some strong prospects to deal from.
The hypothetical trade package: Defenseman Scott Morrow, forward Jackson Blake, first-round pick
The Hurricanes are loaded with future first-round picks, largely due to getting a pair of them from Dallas in the Rantanen trade. This could be an opportunity for Dallas to get one of them back, while also adding some serious young talent into the orgnaization.
Morrow is a top right-handed defense prospect that could slide right into Dallas' blue line, while Blake is entering his age 22 season and coming off a strong rookie campaign that saw him score 17 goals, 17 assists and 34 total points in 80 games.
Another potential option here could be a swap involving forward Andre Svechnikov and a lesser prospect than Morrow.
Svechnikov is loaded with talent but has not yet found much consistency, or taken a big step toward stardom as expected. But he is still an excellent player with some untapped potential and signed long-term, both of which could be appealing to Dallas.
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