Just because Jason Robertson signed a one-year contract with the Dallas Stars doesn't mean he's fleeing come July 1.
Stars general manager Jim Nill said Wednesday he wants Robertson to eventually retire with the franchise.
"We want to make this work," Nill said, per Stars reporter Brian Rea.
Robertson is eligible to re-sign with Dallas as of Jan. 1. Otherwise, he will reach unrestricted free agency for the first time next July.
Nill said the sides discussed both long- and short-term deals prior to agreeing to the one-year contract worth $12 million to avoid arbitration on Tuesday.
"It was clear he wanted to be a Dallas Star," Nill said. "When you get down to a one-year deal, I think is what works well for both parties."
Robertson, who turned 27 Wednesday, has 490 points (213 goals and 277 assists) in his 456 career regular-season games with the Stars.
Nill said he did not know whether Robertson received an offer sheet in restricted free agency, but he acknowledged at the conclusion of the NHL Draft that the Stars had a sign-and-trade deal in place to send Robertson to Seattle for the seventh overall pick. While Robertson couldn’t veto that trade, he wouldn’t agree to a long-term deal with the Kraken — a reported $120 million over eight years ($15 million per season).
Robertson had a team-high 96 points (45 goals, 51 assists) this past season. It was his third 40-goal season, and he completed a $31 million, four-year deal he got in 2022.
— with files from The Associated Press
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