**Prosper, Texas** — Dallas Stars winger Jason Robertson filed for salary arbitration ahead of Sunday's NHL deadline, a step that prevents rival clubs from submitting an offer sheet and keeps the franchise's top scorer in the contract process.
Robertson was one of 15 NHL players to file before Sunday's 5 p.m. ET deadline. The Stars carry a top-heavy payroll with seven players drawing cap hits above $8 million, including Mikko Rantanen at $12 million and defenseman Thomas Harley at $10.587 million.
Dallas had arranged a sign-and-trade with the Seattle Kraken for the seventh overall pick in last month's draft, but Robertson declined to accept a long-term contract with Seattle, which had offered approximately $120 million over eight seasons.
Robertson, who will turn 27 on July 22, became a restricted free agent after a four-year, $31 million contract from 2022 expired. He led the Stars with 96 points last season, recording 45 goals and 51 assists across 82 games, and was named a First Team NHL All-Star at left wing.
The arbitration route means an independent adjudicator will set Robertson's 2026-27 salary unless Dallas reaches a new agreement first. That contract would bridge him to unrestricted free agency next summer. General manager Jim Nill said the organization still aims to work out a longer deal and that discussions with Robertson's representatives remain ongoing.
