Jason Robertson pressures Dallas by revealing one Canadian team he would accept trade to
Photo credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
Robertson's openness to Montreal isn't what fans think it is.
It's leverage, not destination - and the Stars know it.
Per François Gagnon of RDS, Jason Robertson would be willing to play for the Montreal Canadiens despite being American, living in a tax-friendly state, and playing for a Dallas Stars team built to win now.
"From what I understand, Jason Robertson would be willing, even though he's American, even though he benefits from a tax-friendly state like Texas, and even though he plays for one of the NHL's top teams, to play in Montreal."
- Francois Gagnon
- Francois Gagnon
That quote landed in Montreal like a thunderbolt. But read it as a Dallas negotiation story, not a Canadiens one.
Robertson rejected a $120 million extension in Seattle, per The Hockey News. He also blocked a trade to St. Louis.
Dallas remains his clear preference, per Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic.
The contract gap is roughly $1.5 million per year. Robertson is seeking $14 million annually, while the Stars reportedly won't go past $12.5 million, per LeBrun.
Montreal is the pressure valve Robertson's camp needs to close that difference.
Montreal is a tool, not a destination
Treating this as proof of Montreal's growing appeal makes sense on the surface. The Canadiens have genuinely rebuilt their reputation.
A 26-year-old American with 490 career points in 456 NHL games doesn't casually name Montreal unless the organization has earned it.
But the Montreal Canadiens reportedly won't destroy their salary structure to land him, per Gagnon.
Kent Hughes has built one of the most disciplined cap architectures in the NHL.
Robertson's number would land directly on top of what Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, and Ivan Demidov will all command in the coming years.
Dallas is the team that has to blink
Robertson becomes eligible for offer sheets on July 1. A $15 million AAV offer sheet would cost the submitting team four first-round picks as compensation - a penalty steep enough to stop almost any GM.
That's precisely why Dallas must act before that date arrives. Robertson knows it too.
Montreal's name in this story isn't a destination signal - it's a negotiating tool. And it's working exactly as intended.
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