NHL insider Elliotte Friedman has said that the Detroit Red Wings are a potential trade fit for Dallas Stars winger Jason Robertson. But that would happen only under one condition: Detroit would first have to trade captain Dylan Larkin. 

Friedman brought up the speculation about Detroit captain Dylan Larkin's own trade request earlier this offseason.

Robertson still doesn’t have a new contract in Dallas, with a salary arbitration hearing now scheduled for July 25 if no deal or trade is reached before then.

His four-year, $31M extension expired June 30, making him a restricted free agent. After talking to Dallas, roughly a $2 million gap in annual value was estimated. Robertson is seeking close to $14 million, and the Stars are reluctant to go past $12 million. 

"Steve Yzerman would rather make no trade than what he thinks is a bad trade," Friedman stated in early July, as reported recently by Sports Naut. "(Jason Robertson) wants Dallas to budge. Don't see it now. My guess is they go to arbitration. Unless Yzerman decides he's the best option for Larkin." 

In other words, Detroit is not actively pursuing Robertson right now, but Friedman wrote that if Yzerman feels he's the best option for Larkin, the trade could happen then.

Dallas also tried a sign-and-trade with the Seattle Kraken worth $15 million a season over eight years. But Robertson used his no-movement protection to reject the move. He filed for arbitration ahead of the league's July 5 deadline, which also makes him ineligible to sign an offer sheet with another team this offseason.

Larkin has only five years left on his $8.7 million-per-year contract. And a return with the Stars could be a fit if they were to move on from Robertson. Detroit has the cap space to offer Robertson a long-term deal along with Lucas Raymond and Moritz Seider. 

Robertson's 96-point season makes the interest obvious. He scored 45 goals and added 51 assists for 96 points last season. These numbers can easily strengthen Detroit's offence. 

Other potential landing spots

Before the Seattle sign-and-trade fell apart, Robertson had already been linked to other teams as well.

According to a report from Sports Naut from May, the teams Los Angeles Kings and San Jose Sharks are listed as possible trade partners. With their cap space and prospect capital, it made sense. The St. Louis Blues also made a push, offering multiple first-round picks, but Robertson turned that down as well.

Seattle is no longer in the picture after Robertson blocked the move, and more recent moves were made by the Pittsburgh Penguins to talk with Dallas. The Penguins are carrying enough cap space to meet Robertson's contract demands. 

But arbitration is imminent, and resolution could come within weeks.

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Written by

Aadhya Nalla

Edited by

Suyashdeep Sason