Allen: Red Wings Need to Make Aggressive Bid for Robertson

Twenty-three months ago, Detroit Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman moved a first-round pick as part of a package to land Alex DeBrincat.

In the two seasons since that trade, DeBrincat shows 66 goals and 137 points.

“I feel very good about that move,” Yzerman said at his season-ending press conference. “We got an excellent player on our team. We’re prepared to use our draft picks. We’re prepared to use our prospects. We are prepared to use any player for that matter that makes us better and helps us in our timeline.”

That declaration seems particularly meaningful this week as the NHL is alive with speculation about the Dallas Stars considering the possibility of trading Jason Robertson to ease their salary cap crunch.

Cap Problem

According to puckpedia.com, the Stars have 16 players signed and just under $5 million in cap space left to finish their 23-person 2025-26 roster.  This shortfall is the consequence of signing Mikko Rantanen for eight years at $12 million per season.

Robertson is signed for next season at $7.75 million, but he will be a restricted free agent next summer. He will seek a significant raise. That’s why the Stars must consider moving him.

If they do, the Red Wings must do whatever it takes to make sure Robertson comes to Detroit. The Red Wings are looking for a proven scorer to improve the production of their top-six forward group. Robertson, comfortable on the right or left wing, has scored 151 goals over the past four seasons.

That’s 37.5 goals per season. Think of plugging him into top line to play with Lucas Raymond and Dylan Larkin.

Detroit has the cap space (more than $21 million) to fit Robertson, and they have assets to make a highly competitive offer.

They were at a disadvantage when they inquired about Dylan Cozens last season because the Buffalo Sabres were looking for immediate help, not draft picks and prospects. If the Stars decide to do this, they will be looking to limit the amount of salary they take back.

Stars Will Want What Detroit Has

That means a package that includes Detroit’s first-round pick (No. 13) and perhaps prospect Nate Danielson would be a reasonable starting point. Maybe the deal could be expanded.

If the Stars go through with this, the Red Wings won’t be the favorite. There’s buzz about the Anaheim Ducks going big after Robertson. They have an impressive list of young NHL players and prospects. Plus, their pick is No. 10 this year.

But Detroit has some advantages: Yzerman and Dallas general manager Jim Nill have a long relationship. They trust each other. That helps when you are working on a major deal. Plus, Robertson once played for Little Caesars as a youngster.

No team is going to give up major assets without some belief that Robertson will re-sign with his new team.

Ultimately, this will be Nill’s decision about how it will play out. He will decide which offer he likes, or whether he will accept offers at all. All Detroit fans can hope is that Yzerman plays ultra-aggressive to get this done.

Yzerman said he will make any deal that makes his club better. This deal will do that.