Leading as much as the Jason Robertson salary arbitration can be interesting to follow
The Chris Johnston Show: Johnston and Julian McKenzie speak about players who file for salary arbitration, mainly Jason Robertson, and the way that situation could role out.
** NHLRumors.com transcriptions
McKenzie: “To your point in regards to the free agent market going quiet, I feel there have been, there was more fireworks across the players who filed for arbitration within the last couple of days, which incorporates Jason Robertson of the Dallas Stars. Just a few other notable names, too: Kirby Dach, of Montreal Canadiens is there too. Jet Greaves from Columbus is there. Cole Perfetti in Winnipeg. There’s a protracted list from the NHLPA web, Trevor Zegras from Philadelphia. Got to say him too. A protracted list of players. Any quick thoughts on, on those names surfacing for arbitration?
Johnston: “Yeah, it sets the clock right for those players. Those guys are literally not eligible because they filed for arbitration for offer sheets. So the Robertson situation, I feel, is probably the most distinguished among the many players you mentioned.
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You already know he’s in an interesting spot. He’s one yr from being a UFA, but still has a restricted free agent season to sign. If he and the Stars find yourself going through with that arbitration case, he’ll effectively be walked to free agency. But he is also going to have a season here where he doesn’t have any trade protection. Where the celebs will give you the chance to proceed listing on trading him. You already know, there’s still a world where they sign a long-term extension between now and and the date of that hearing, each time it’s set, because that’s that’s type of a what what happens within the system.
So ultimately, Dallas goes to have form of a one final decision to make prior to that arbitration hearing, in my opinion. Within the sense of , do they get right into a contract range that he’ll sign, and do they simply bite the bullet and do it? Or in the event that they undergo the arbitration case, , effectively, they’re either playing him out to free agency next July, or they’re probably going to look to trade him in some unspecified time in the future in the course of the yr. So, type of a tricky, tough set of circumstances.
But look, it’s it, , in quite a lot of those cases, I feel players and teams don’t like going through those arbitration cases. You already know, you’ve gotten to mainly poke holes in in all sides. You already know, indicate a player’s deficiencies in an effort to get the arbitrator to side with, with where you’re thinking that the contract must be, . So often these, that is just the type of, , it sets the wheels in motion on getting those next contracts done.
But within the case of Robertson, I don’t think that’s necessarily the case. I really imagine perhaps it’s just best for him to get a one-year award. It’s probably going to be a reasonably good sum of money, after which he’s able to be a free agent next summer.
So we already know the Stars tried to trade him and weren’t in a position to, to consummate that trade with Seattle with him not signing a long-term extension. So it, that’ll be an interesting arbitration case if it happens.
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McKenzie: “I’m not saying I would like it to get to some extent where Jason Robertson goes to free agency, however the Jason Robertson sweepstakes in free agency next summer is way sexier than anything we’ve heard around free agents this yr. Especially considering what the category was speculated to appear like, perhaps as of like a yr or two years ago, after which the names just kept falling off the board. We, we, we want sexy names back on the free agent board, CJ. We’d like that back.
Johnston: “Well, you, you’ve gotten restricted free agents to concentrate on now too, with the offer sheet thing being in play. I mean, , the interesting thing in regards to the Robertson situation is the sensation is he doesn’t want to go away Dallas. Like for all of the type of machinations which might be happening here, , obviously he’s attempting to to get what he thinks is fair value for his services.
But , I don’t think ultimately he really desires to, to be anywhere but with the Stars. So it’ll be interesting to me to see can they patch it together and, and perhaps ultimately conform to some form of contract that works. You already know he’s also in a, in a weird spot because he isn’t eligible to get, he’s not, he’s not eligible to get any trade protection for this coming season.
So if he signs a big-money extension, even, , there’s still a yr where the Stars could theoretically trade him too. So it’s just it’s type of he’s he’s like considered one of these players. He’s caught between all these. these forces. Obviously, he’s a, , considered one of the highest scorers within the league the last variety of years. You already know has some some pretty special offensive gifts, and he’s going to receives a commission, but it surely’s just not clear where and when and the way just yet.
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And , you’re right. If he does goes through the arbitration hearing, that in and of itself can be one other type of moment where he and the Stars are on the other side of the table from one another. Not, not necessarily seeing the world the identical way. After which what does what does that arrange for this coming season for him if he gets a one-year award by way of his relationship with the team. How actively they’re trying to trade him or not, after which ultimately does he turn into a UFA in July 1st, 2027.
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