Jason Robertson’s next deal with the Dallas Stars has become one of the NHL offseason’s biggest stories. Now, two prominent voices of the industry, Jeff Marek and ESPN analyst Greg Wyshynski, are exposing the frustration simmering beneath the stalled talks.

On The Sheet with Jeff Marek show, they said negotiations between Robertson’s camp and the Stars have turned more emotional than expected.

Marek was blunt about the mood, saying, “There is an anger there. Like there’s an anger and a frustration there around Jason Robertson.”

Marek has picked up frustration across the league over the stalled talks. “I’m sure he’s looking at this and saying like I deserve 14—look at all the goals, measure up my goals against anybody else’s, look at the salary cap going up. So I think that both sides are probably frustrated.”

His comments underscore how far apart the two sides have drifted on Robertson’s market value.

Marek added that many insiders thought the deal would already be done: “The people that I talk to have kind of said like there is this feeling that they thought this would all be done by now, that this would all be wrapped up.”

Greg Wyshynski: Jason Robertson’s Improved Game Deserves Better Pay

Wyshynski argued that Robertson’s all‑around improvement strengthens his case for a major contract.

“He committed himself to off‑season training, he battled in the hard areas of the ice and made plays, he was awesome in the playoffs. He was already their best player in the playoffs,” Wyshynski said in that same show.

He added that Robertson may take the negotiations personally.

“And so you do all that and you still get nickel‑and‑dimed by the team that you’re trying to stay with. That’s kind of insulting, I think, in some ways.”

Despite the tension, Wyshynski still believes Robertson and the Stars will reach a new deal.

“I’m team they find a way to make it work… I am leaning Jason Robertson as a Dallas star when the season begins. That’s where I’m leaning.”

Dallas must find the right balance between paying one of its best scorers and keeping enough money to build a strong team for another Stanley Cup run in the tough Western Conference.

Robertson’s 45 goals in the last regular season ranked top‑5 league‑wide, and comparable RFAs have signed deals in the $13–14M range.

As per Tim Cowlishaw from Dallas News, Robertson is still a restricted free agent, and each week without a deal brings more attention to the talks. The Stars still want to keep their star winger, but the growing debate over his value shows this is no longer a simple contract negotiation.

What do you think? Can Dallas and Jason Robertson agree on a new contract before training camp, or will this become the summer's biggest NHL story? Let us know in the comments. 

Read more at the NHL Fan Central.

Written by

Kapil Manghnani